JPH05318593A - Ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To desirably cure a material to be adhered and adhesive of a matter to be irradiated while maintaining predetermined adhesive properties of both by irradiating the matter to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays through a light transmission plate from below, applying a pressure to it from above and supporting the plate by a support. CONSTITUTION:In order to irradiate a matter 6 to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, a light source 1 contained in an optical system 2 is first lit, and the matter 6 is placed, after its discharge is stabilized, on one conveyor 8. Then, an extruder 12 is operated, and a stock 11 is pressed to a position immediately before a light transmission plate 5. Press means 7 is operated, and a presser of the press is moved down. Further, a pair of shutter means 16 are operated, and a pair of shutter bodies 17, 18 are opened. Then, the bodies 17, 18 are closed, the presser is raised, and the stock 11 is pressed to a position immediately after the plate 5. The matter 6 is transferred to the other conveyor 9. Thus, the matter 6 is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from below, applied by a pressure from above, thereby desirably curing adhesive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultraviolet irradiation device for curing an adhesive such as a sealing agent for liquid crystal plates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A curing device using ultraviolet rays has been adopted in various fields, has been widely used in coating curing, adhesive curing and the like, and its application field has been remarkably expanding. As an example, since liquid crystals are weak against heat, an ultraviolet curable resin has begun to be used for sealing the liquid crystal plate.

In such a liquid crystal plate sealing device, an ultraviolet curable resin is sealed between two glass plates and pressed, and then the liquid crystal plate is placed on a conveyor and conveyed, and the upper surface is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The adhesive state between the resin and the plate at the time of ultraviolet irradiation is unstable, and the resin is cured, but a gap may occur between the cured resin and the plate. Even before the UV irradiation, even if the resin and the plate are in a good adhesion state, the cured resin and the plate are hardened by the expansion and contraction of the adhesive when the UV-curable adhesive cures. There may be a gap between the two plates, or the two plates may be misaligned.

Such a problem is not limited to the sealing of the liquid crystal plate, but may occur when it is desired to cure an irradiated object using an ultraviolet curable adhesive.

[0005]

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide an ultraviolet-curable adhesive to a material to be adhered in a state after the adhesive is cured. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultraviolet irradiation device which can be adhered to each other and is less likely to cause a positional deviation between the adherend material and the adhesive.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transparent plate which is transparent to ultraviolet rays, a supporting means which supports the periphery of the transparent plate, and ultraviolet rays which are incident on the lower surface of the transparent plate. An ultraviolet irradiating device comprising: an ultraviolet radiation light source arranged below a transparent plate; and a pressing means for pressing the upper surface of the transparent plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ultraviolet-transparent light-transmitting plate, a support means for supporting the periphery of the light-transmitting plate, an ultraviolet light source, and ultraviolet rays emitted by the light source are incident on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate. Thus, the ultraviolet irradiation device is characterized by comprising the optical system arranged in the vicinity of the light source and the pressing means for pressing the upper surface of the transparent plate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ultraviolet irradiating device according to the first or second aspect, a cooling means for cooling the lower surface of the transparent plate is arranged near the transparent plate. Is.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the ultraviolet irradiating device according to the first or second aspect, a shutter for blocking ultraviolet rays incident on the lower surface of the transparent plate is arranged on the lower surface side of the transparent plate. It is a UV irradiation device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ultraviolet irradiating device according to the first or second aspect, a shutter that blocks ultraviolet rays that enter the lower surface of the transparent plate is arranged on the lower surface side of the transparent plate with a gap. At the same time, the ultraviolet irradiation device is characterized in that cooling means for allowing gas to flow through the gap is provided in the vicinity of the transparent plate.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the first to fifth aspects, the upper surface of the transparent plate is roughened.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the first to fifth aspects, an ultraviolet-transparent resin film is formed on the upper surface of the transparent plate.

In the present invention, as a concept, ultraviolet rays are included in light.

[0014]

The operation of the inventions of claims 1 and 2 will be described. First, an irradiation object having a flat outer shape having a plate surface adhered material that allows ultraviolet rays to enter from the outside to at least the portion to which the adhesive is applied is used, and the irradiation object is placed on the translucent plate.
Ultraviolet rays from a light source enter the transparent plate from below, either directly or through an optical system. Therefore, after that, ultraviolet rays are incident on the object to be irradiated from below through the light-transmitting plate, and pressure is applied by pressing means from above. Since the translucent plate is supported by the supporting portion, the irradiated object between the pressing means and the translucent plate is cured while the material to be adhered and the adhesive maintain a predetermined adhesion.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means, when heat rays other than ultraviolet rays are emitted from the light source and enter the light transmitting plate, the temperature rise of the light transmitting plate is caused. It can be reduced. Since the translucent plate does not get hot,
The object to be irradiated on the upper surface of the transparent plate does not reach a high temperature either. This makes it difficult for the material to be adhered and the adhesive to change thermally.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate can be blocked by the shutter means, the shutter is released only when the object to be irradiated is placed on the light transmitting plate and the pressing by the pressing means is applied. By opening the means, the heat ray incident time on the transparent plate can be shortened, so that the temperature rise of the transparent plate can be reduced. This makes it difficult for the material to be adhered and the adhesive to change thermally.

Note that the temperature is reduced to some extent even if the shutter means is closed only when the object to be irradiated is not placed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate can be blocked by the shutter means, the shutter is released only when the object to be irradiated is placed on the light transmitting plate and the pressing means applies pressure. If the means is opened, the heat ray incident time on the light-transmitting plate can be shortened, so that the temperature rise of the light-transmitting plate can be reduced, and the lower surface side of the light-transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means when the shutter means is opened. The light plate does not heat up. Further, if the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means while the shutter means is closed, the cooling fluid does not go downward by the shutter means, so that the lower surface of the light transmitting plate can be efficiently cooled. This makes it difficult for the material to be adhered and the adhesive to change thermally.

Only when the object to be irradiated is not placed, the temperature is reduced to some extent even if the shutter means is closed.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the upper surface of the light transmitting plate is a rough surface, first, the light incident on the lower surface of the light transmitting plate is diffused by the rough surface portion, so that the light hitting the object to be irradiated is uniform. Be converted. Further, regarding the transportation of the irradiation object, the irradiation object is likely to stop on the transparent plate due to the frictional force of the rough surface, and the irradiation object is easily positioned.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the resin film is formed on the upper surface of the translucent plate, first, the adhesiveness with the object to be irradiated is improved when the pressing means is applied, and the object to be irradiated is improved. Since the light hitting the light does not substantially pass through the air layer, the attenuation of the ultraviolet light from the light transmitting plate to the object to be irradiated is almost eliminated, and the ultraviolet light can be efficiently irradiated. Furthermore, regarding the transportation of the irradiated object, since the resin film is more adhesive than the glass surface, the frictional force of the resin film makes it easier for the irradiated object to stop on the translucent plate, and the positioning of the irradiated object Will be easier.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment common to claims 1 to 5 will be described below.

First, a structural description will be given. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a metal halide lamp or a high-pressure mercury discharge lamp having a straight tube type light emitting portion as a light source, which mainly emits ultraviolet rays.

The light source 1 is contained in an optical system 0 composed of a trough-shaped reflector 2 having a parabolic cross section. The optical system may be a reflector or an optical fiber, and in this case,
The position of the light source may be anywhere as long as the light output part of the optical fiber faces the transparent plate.

The optical system 0 is housed in the housing 3 and fixed by a supporting means (not shown).

An opening 3A is formed on the upper surface of the housing 3 at a position facing the irradiation opening of the optical system 0, and the translucent plate 5 closes the opening 3A. The translucent plate 5 is a tempered glass made of borosilicate glass and has an ultraviolet transmittance of about 60%. A transparent plate may be formed of quartz glass in order to increase the ultraviolet transmittance. Although not shown, a heat ray filter formed of a multilayer interference film that reflects infrared rays and visible light and transmits ultraviolet rays is arranged on the lower surface of the light transmitting plate 5. The heat ray filter may be a tube through which water flows. In this case, removal of heat rays from the light source and removal of heat of the transparent plate 5 whose temperature has already risen can be performed simultaneously (second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. 31 is a flat water cooling tube, 32 and 33 are The inflow port, the outflow port, and 34 are supporting parts for supporting the flat plate water cooling pipe 31, and other reference parts are the same as those in the first embodiment).

The light transmitting plate 5 is supported at the opening by a support portion 31 formed of a step portion around the opening. Since the transparent plate 5 is simply dropped into the support portion 31, it is easy to replace the transparent plate 5 at the end of its life.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an irradiation object made of a liquid crystal plate, which has two glass flat plates as a structure, and an ultraviolet curable resin is interposed between the two flat plates. The irradiation target 6 is placed on the upper surface of the transparent plate 5.

Reference numeral 7 is a pressing means having a planar pressing portion 7a, which has a hydraulic cylinder on the upper end side to obtain a pressing force.

Numerals 8 and 9 are conveyors composed of a plurality of rollers for moving the irradiation object 6 smoothly. The conveyors 8 and 9 themselves have no drive system, but the frictional force of the conveyor is reduced as much as possible. To do.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a push-out device, in which two long rod-shaped stocks 11 project from the push-out device main body 12, and a push-out plate 1 made of a flat plate is provided at the tip of the stock 11.
1a is provided. As the functional operation, the device main body 12
The object 6 to be irradiated is pushed by the tip of the stock 11 (pushing plate 11a) by the operation of the internal drive system so that the object 6 to be irradiated can be sequentially moved on the conveyor 8, the transparent plate 5 and the conveyor 9. In addition to the combination of the conveyors 8 and 9 and the push-out device 10, well-known conveying means can be applied as the conveying means.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an air-cooling type cooling means, which has a cooling means main body 14 having a fan and a drive system built therein and a nozzle 15 attached to the cooling means main body 14. The nozzle 15 is arranged so that air is ejected toward the lower surface of the transparent plate 5.

Reference numeral 16 is a shutter means, which opens and closes the shutter bodies 17 and 18 and the shutter bodies 17 and 18.

Next, the control system will be described. In this embodiment, a central control device 21 that outputs a control signal based on a predetermined control program integrally controls the respective parts, and includes a pressing means 7, a pushing-out device 10, a cooling means 13,
The shutter means 16 are each connected to the central controller 21.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described by the explanation of control. First, after the light source 1 is turned on to stabilize the discharge, the irradiation target 6 is placed on the conveyor 8. In this state, the pressing means 7 is in a state in which the planar pressing portion 7a is raised (maximum raised position), the pushing device 10 is in a state in which the tip of the stock 11 is immediately before the conveyor 8, and the cooling means 13 is air jetted from the nozzle 15. In this state, the shutter means 16 is in a state where the shutter bodies 17 and 18 are aligned (the shutter is closed).

When the central controller 21 is driven, the first signal is output from the central controller 21 to the pushing device 10. When the pushing device 10 receives the first signal, the stock 11 is pushed to just before the light transmitting plate 5. At this stage, the irradiation object 6 is placed on the transparent plate 5.

When the push-out device 10 pushes the stock 11 to just before the light-transmitting plate 5, a return signal is sent from the push-out device 10 to the central controller 21, and the central controller 21 receives this signal and the central controller 21 receives the pressing means 7. To the second signal.

When the pressing means 7 receives the second signal,
The planar pressing portion is lowered to a preset position so that a predetermined pressure is gradually applied to the irradiation object 6.

When the pressing portion is lowered to a preset position (position where the adhesive comes into close contact with the liquid crystal glass plate by pressing), a return signal is sent from the pressing means 7 to the central control unit 21,
In response to this signal, the central control device 21 sends a third signal to the shutter means 16, and the shutter means 16 opens the shutter bodies 17, 18 after receiving the third signal.

Further, the central control device 21 sends a fourth signal to the pressing means 7 and the shutter means 16 after a predetermined time from the sending of the third signal (after the time required for the adhesive to cure).

After receiving the fourth signal, the shutter means 16 closes the shutter bodies 17 and 18, and the pressing means 7
After receiving the fourth signal, the pressing portion 7a having a planar shape is gradually raised, and when the pressing portion 7a returns to the original position, the pressing means 7 is pressed.
Sends a return signal from the central control device 21, and the central control device 21 outputs a fifth signal to the push-out device 10.

When the pushing device 10 receives the fifth signal, the stock 11 is pushed to just after the light transmitting plate 6. At this stage, the irradiation object 6 is placed on the conveyor 9. Thereafter, the push-out device 10 sends a return signal to the central control device 21, and upon receipt of this signal, the central control device 21 outputs a fifth signal to the push-out device 10.

When the pushing device 10 receives the sixth signal, the stock 11 is returned to its original position. With the above, curing is completed.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This is the same as the first embodiment except for the transparent plate 36. The upper surface of the transparent plate 36 is frosted to form a rough surface portion 37. The parts other than the upper surface of this product are formed of borosilicate glass.

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This part is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the transparent plate 34. An ultraviolet-transparent resin film 39 is adhered to the upper surface of the transparent plate 38, and when the liquid crystal plate 6 is placed on the upper surface of the transparent plate 38 and the liquid crystal plate 6 is pressed by the pressing portion 7a. The position of the liquid crystal plate 6 is prevented by the close contact of the resin film 39, and the resin film 39 serves as a cushioning material, so that the liquid crystal plate 6 can be prevented from being damaged or cracked even by a large pressing force of the pressing portion 7a.

[0046]

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, ultraviolet rays are incident on the object to be irradiated from below through the transparent plate, and pressure is applied by pressing means from above. On the other hand, since the light-transmitting plate is supported by the support portion, the irradiation object between the pressing means and the light-transmitting plate can be cured while the material to be adhered and the adhesive maintain predetermined adhesion. ..

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means, when heat rays other than ultraviolet rays are emitted from the light source and enter the light transmitting plate, the temperature rise of the light transmitting plate is caused. It can be reduced. Since the translucent plate does not get hot,
The object to be irradiated on the upper surface of the transparent plate does not have a high temperature and can be cured at a low temperature. As a result, the material to be adhered and the adhesive are less likely to change due to heat, and the adhesive is cured while maintaining the adhesiveness to the material to be adhered and the adhesive.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate can be blocked by the shutter means, the shutter is released only when the object to be irradiated is placed on the light transmitting plate and the pressing means is applied. When the means is opened, the heat ray incident time on the light transmitting plate can be shortened, the temperature rise of the light transmitting plate can be suppressed, and low temperature curing can be performed, so that the positional deviation before and after curing the adhesive hardly occurs.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate can be blocked by the shutter means, the shutter is released only when the object to be irradiated is placed on the light transmitting plate and the pressure is applied by the pressing means. If the means is opened, the heat ray incident time on the light-transmitting plate can be shortened, so that the temperature rise of the light-transmitting plate can be reduced, and the lower surface side of the light-transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means when the shutter means is opened. The light plate does not heat up. Further, if the lower surface side of the light-transmitting plate is cooled by the cooling means while the shutter means is closed, the cooling fluid does not go downward by the shutter means, so that the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate can be efficiently cooled and low temperature can be achieved. Since the curing is possible, the positional deviation before and after the curing of the adhesive hardly occurs.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the upper surface of the light transmitting plate is a rough surface, first, the light incident on the lower surface of the light transmitting plate is diffused by the rough surface portion, and the light that strikes the object to be irradiated is uniform. Be converted. Further, regarding the transportation of the irradiation object, the irradiation object is likely to stop on the transparent plate due to the frictional force of the rough surface, and the irradiation object is easily positioned.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the resin film is formed on the upper surface of the light transmitting plate, first, when pressure is applied by the pressing means, the adhesion with the object to be irradiated is improved and the object to be irradiated is improved. Since the light hitting the light does not substantially pass through the air layer, the attenuation of the ultraviolet light from the light transmitting plate to the object to be irradiated is almost eliminated, and the ultraviolet light can be efficiently irradiated. Furthermore, regarding the transportation of the irradiated object, since the resin film is more adhesive than the glass surface, the frictional force of the resin film makes it easier for the irradiated object to stop on the translucent plate, and the positioning of the irradiated object Will be easier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a first embodiment of the invention of claims 1 to 5 as seen through.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control means of a first embodiment of the inventions of claims 1 to 5.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 4 is an internal side view showing an essential part of a second embodiment of the inventions of claims 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an essential part of the invention of claim 6;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an essential part of the invention of claim 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Light source, 2 ... Optical system, 3 ... Housing, 5, 36, 3
8 ... Translucent plate, 6 ... Irradiation object, 7 ... Pressing means, 13
... Cooling means, 16 ... Shutter means, 38 ... Rough surface portion, 39
... resin film.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ultraviolet-transparent light-transmitting plate; a supporting means for supporting the periphery of the light-transmitting plate; and a light-transmitting plate disposed below the light-transmitting plate so that ultraviolet rays enter the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate. An ultraviolet radiation source; a pressing means for pressing the upper surface of the transparent plate;
An ultraviolet irradiating device comprising: 2. An ultraviolet-transparent light-transmitting plate; a support means for supporting the periphery of the light-transmitting plate; an ultraviolet radiation light source; and ultraviolet rays emitted by the light source to enter the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate. An ultraviolet irradiation device, comprising: an optical system arranged in the vicinity of the light source; and a pressing unit that presses the upper surface of the transparent plate. 3. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein a cooling means for cooling the lower surface of the transparent plate is arranged near the transparent plate. 4. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein a shutter for blocking ultraviolet rays incident on the lower surface of the transparent plate is provided on the lower surface side of the transparent plate. 5. The ultraviolet irradiating device according to claim 1, wherein a shutter for blocking ultraviolet rays incident on the lower surface of the light transmitting plate is provided on the lower surface side of the light transmitting plate with a gap therebetween, and in this gap. An ultraviolet irradiation device characterized in that a cooling means for circulating a gas is arranged near a transparent plate. 6. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein a rough surface portion is formed on the upper surface of the transparent plate. 7. The ultraviolet irradiating device according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet permeable resin film is formed on an upper surface of the light transmitting plate.