JPH0743729A - Method for determining gap of liquid crystal cell and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of a gap by acting a compressed gas on the outside surfaces of liquid crystal cells in the state of holding the liquid crystals in the air while maintaining a slight spacing therebetween, thereby determining the gap. CONSTITUTION:The gap G of the liquid crystal cells S formed by tentatively fixing two sheets of glass substrates 5, 6 with electrodes with sealing adhesives 7, 7 consisting of a UV curing resin is uniformly reduced. Namely, gaseous nitrogen is supplied into spacers 8, 9, by which the liquid crystal cells S are floated in the air so as to act a uniform pressure by the compressed gas (gaseous nitrogen) on the outside surfaces of the glass substrates 5, 6. Simultaneously the gaseous nitrogen is discharged from between upper and lower frames 4, 2 and the glass substrates 6, 5. As a result, the gap G is reduced uniformly to the height of the spacers while the liquid crystal cells S are held in the air, by which the gap is determined.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a gap in a liquid crystal cell in which two glass substrates with electrodes are temporarily fixed with a seal adhesive.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the above-described liquid crystal cell gap formation is performed by clamping the upper and lower peripheral edges of a glass substrate with elastic packing, and applying compressed gas to the back surfaces of two glass substrates to form the gap. JP-A-63-163
No. 423, etc. However, when making a gap in such a liquid crystal cell, it is necessary to increase the clamping pressure of the elastic packing in order to prevent compressed gas from leaking between the glass substrate and the elastic packing. There is a problem in that the part in contact with is too crushed and the gap accuracy deteriorates. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for forming a gap in a liquid crystal cell by applying a uniform pressure to the entire surface including the peripheral edges of two glass substrates. To do.

[0003]

According to the method of forming a gap of a liquid crystal cell in the present invention, a liquid crystal cell in which two glass substrates with electrodes are temporarily fixed with a seal adhesive is used, and a frame body is provided on the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell. The step of placing the liquid crystal cell on the frame body, and the frame body in which the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell is above the pressure plate in which the liquid crystal cell is placed above and the frame body is provided on the lower surface thereof. And a compressed gas is simultaneously supplied to both spaces defined by the both pressure plates, both frames and two glass substrates to raise the liquid crystal cell. The step of floating in the air and holding it in the air and applying a pressure of a compressed gas to the outer surfaces of both glass substrates to reduce the gap between both glass substrates to a predetermined interval.

Further, in the gap producing device for a liquid crystal cell according to the present invention, a lower frame for pressure holding is hermetically fixed to the upper part of a lower pressurizing plate, and a gas supply hole or a gas supply pipe for compressed gas communicating with the inside of the lower frame is installed at a lower position. An upper pressure plate, which is provided so as to penetrate through the pressure plate or the lower frame body and has an upper frame body hermetically fixed to the lower surface above the lower pressure plate, and an air supply pipe for compressed gas communicating with the inside of the upper frame body, or An air supply hole is provided through the upper frame or the upper pressure plate, and the lower pressure plate defines a minute gap between the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell installed on the lower frame and the upper frame. It is characterized in that it is configured to be raised and lowered to a height position.

[0005]

According to the present invention, by adopting the above-mentioned solution means, a uniform pressure is applied to the entire surface of the glass substrate while holding the liquid crystal cell in a state of floating in the air to form the gap of the liquid crystal cell. Therefore, the gap accuracy is improved because no extra force is applied to the peripheral portion of the glass substrate.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in which a gap is formed in a liquid crystal cell, and a lower frame body 2 is hermetically fixed to the upper surface of a lower pressure plate 1 which is lifted and lowered by an elevator control mechanism (not shown). An inclined surface 2A is formed on the inner upper portion of the lower frame body 2 so as to incline upward. Further, the lower pressurizing plate 1 is provided with a compressed gas supply hole 1A which opens from the side surface to the upper surface through the central portion and opens into the lower frame body 2. The supply hole 1A is an opening / closing valve for a nitrogen gas supply source (not shown). It is communicated through. Further, an upper pressure plate 3 made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays is fixedly disposed above the lower pressure plate 1, and an upper frame body 4 is hermetically fixed to the lower surface of the upper pressure plate 3. Further, an inclined surface 4A that is inclined downward and wide is formed in the lower inside of the upper frame 4, and an air supply pipe 4B for compressed gas is inserted through the side. The air supply pipe 4
B and the air supply hole 1A are connected to a nitrogen gas supply source through the same pipe.

In the device thus constructed, two glass substrates 5.6 with electrodes are temporarily fixed with a seal adhesive 7.7 made of an ultraviolet-curing resin to make the gap G uniform. The procedure is to place the liquid crystal cell S on the upper portion of the lower frame 2 and then raise the lower pressure plate 1 to a predetermined position (state of FIG. 1). This lower pressure plate 1
Is raised until the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell S on the lower frame 2 defines a minute gap with the lower surface of the upper frame 4. Next, a space 8 defined by the lower pressurizing plate 1, the lower frame body 2 and the glass substrate 5 is defined by the upper pressurizing plate 3, the upper frame body 4 and the glass substrate 6 through the air supply hole 1A and the air supply pipe 4B. Space 9
Supply nitrogen gas to.

By supplying the nitrogen gas to the space 8.9 in this manner, the liquid crystal cell S floats up in the air as shown in FIG. 1 and is uniformly distributed on the outer surface of the glass substrate 5.6 by the compressed gas (nitrogen gas). As the pressure is applied, the nitrogen gas is discharged from the gap between the upper and lower frame bodies 4.2 and the glass substrate 6.5, and the gap G is held in the air while holding the liquid crystal cell S in the spacer (not shown). Gap is made evenly down to the height of. While continuing this state, ultraviolet rays are radiated from above the upper pressure plate 3 toward the liquid crystal cell S to cure the seal adhesive 7.7 made of an ultraviolet curable resin to manufacture a liquid crystal panel. In the above embodiment, an ultraviolet curable resin is used as the seal adhesive 7.7 and is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, but a thermosetting resin is used as the seal adhesive and a space 8. A heated compressed gas may be supplied to 9 to be cured by heat. In this case, the upper pressure plate 3 need not be made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays. After that, the supply of nitrogen gas is stopped, the lower pressure plate 1 is lowered, the manufactured liquid crystal panel is taken out, a new liquid crystal cell is placed on the lower pressure plate 1, and the above operation is repeated. In the embodiment, the upper and lower frame bodies 4.2 are provided with the inclined surfaces 4A and 2A, but they may not be specially provided.

[0009]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is a glass for holding a liquid crystal cell in the air with a minute gap kept in the air to cause a compressed gas to act on the outer surface of the liquid crystal cell to form a gap. The substrate can be held without applying mechanical clamping pressure, deformation due to holding the glass substrate is eliminated, and gap accuracy is improved. Moreover, since the compressed gas uniformly presses the glass substrate, the gap accuracy is further improved, and the yield of the liquid crystal panel structure is improved, and various advantages are obtained, and the effect is remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a gapped state of a liquid crystal cell as an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lower Pressure Plate 1A Air Supply Hole 2 Lower Frame 3 Upper Pressure Plate 4 Upper Frame 4B Air Supply Pipe

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A step of placing a liquid crystal cell, in which two glass substrates with electrodes are temporarily fixed with a seal adhesive, on a frame body of a pressure plate having a frame body on the upper surface, and the liquid crystal. The pressure plate on which the cell is placed rises until the upper face of the liquid crystal cell forms a minute gap with respect to the pressure plate which is arranged above and has a frame body on its lower surface. And the step of allowing the liquid crystal cell to float in the air and be held in the air by simultaneously supplying a compressed gas to both spaces defined by the both pressure plates, both the frame and the two glass substrates. Applying a pressure of a compressed gas to the outer surface of the glass to reduce the gap between both glass substrates to a predetermined distance, and 2. A lower frame body 2 for pressure holding is hermetically fixed to an upper portion of the lower pressure plate 1, and a compressed gas supply hole 1A or an air supply pipe communicating with the inside of the lower frame body 2 is connected to the lower pressure plate 1 or the lower frame. An upper pressure plate 3 which is provided so as to penetrate through the body 2 and has an upper frame body 4 hermetically fixed to the lower surface thereof is provided above the lower pressure plate 1, and an air supply pipe 4B for compressed gas communicating with the inside of the upper frame body 4 is provided. Alternatively, an air supply hole is provided through the upper frame body 4 or the upper pressure plate 3,
The lower pressurizing plate 1 is configured to be moved up and down to a height position where the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell S mounted on the lower frame body 2 defines a minute gap with the upper frame body 4. Liquid crystal cell gap producing device characterized by