JPH10123475A - Device and method of pasting liquid crystal panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the liquid crystal panel which is warped and projected more than a reference value and is discriminated as a rejected product in accordance with a conventional rule and to improve the yield by pressing the panel, which is warped, so as to put the projection within the value, photoirradiation is conducted and the panel is pasted. SOLUTION: The pasting device is provided with a pressure adding seal 11 which is provided on a liquid crystal panel 51 side of a photomask 41 to harden a seal member 52 that pastes the panel 51 by radiating light beams through the photomask 41 to the panel 51 and a liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10 which is located on the bottom surface side of the panel 51 and has a pressure adding stage 12 that freely goes up and down in an approximately vertical direction against the panel 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for bonding liquid crystal panels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional liquid crystal panel has been bonded by the following apparatus. That is, the liquid crystal panel is temporarily fixed by a temporary fixing exposure device that irradiates light to a part of the sealing material for bonding the liquid crystal panels. afterwards,
The gap state of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel, that is, the warp state of each panel is inspected by a Newton ring inspection device which inspects the nonuniformity of the gap of the liquid crystal panel by generating a Newton ring.

As a result, for example, when the number of Newton rings generated in the liquid crystal panel is three or less, the warpage of the liquid crystal panel is within the standard, so the test is passed. On the other hand, when the number of Newton rings exceeds three, the rejection is made because the warpage of the liquid crystal panel exceeds the standard. Therefore, the rejected liquid crystal panel is discarded and does not become a product. Then, the exposed liquid crystal panel is subjected to main exposure by a main exposure apparatus that irradiates light to the entire area of the seal member of the liquid crystal panel to cure the seal member, and the liquid crystal panels are bonded to each other. The present exposure apparatus irradiates light through a photomask to a liquid crystal panel mounted on a table having a normal flat surface to cure a sealing material for bonding the liquid crystal panels.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned method of bonding liquid crystal panels, a liquid crystal panel generated when more than three Newton rings, for example, is discarded as a defective product, so that the yield is greatly reduced. It was a factor to make it. In addition, the present exposure apparatus in the above-described liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus is configured such that the liquid crystal panel is simply mounted on a table having a flat mounting surface to perform exposure. It is not possible to correct and bond a liquid crystal panel which is defective because it has occurred.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus and a bonding method for solving the above-mentioned problems.

That is, the first liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus irradiates a liquid crystal panel with light through a photomask to cure a sealing material for bonding the liquid crystal panels. Is provided. The liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism includes a pressure seal provided on the liquid crystal panel side of a photomask disposed on the upper surface side of the liquid crystal panel, and a pressure seal provided on the lower surface side of the liquid crystal panel, and is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel surface. It consists of a pressure stage that can be raised and lowered.

In the first liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, a pressure seal is provided as a liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism on the liquid crystal panel side of the photomask, and the pressure stage is vertically movable with respect to the liquid crystal panel surface. Since the liquid crystal panel is provided on the lower surface side of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel warped in a convex shape by the pressure stage is pressed against the pressure seal to correct the warpage. Then, the sealing material is exposed and cured in the corrected state. Therefore, even if the liquid crystal panels have a larger warpage than the reference value, the warpage is corrected to be within the range of the reference value, and the liquid crystal panels are bonded.

[0008] The second liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus has the following configuration. That is, a temporary fixing exposure device for temporarily fixing the liquid crystal panel by irradiating a part of the seal material with light when the liquid crystal panels are bonded with the seal material is provided. In addition, there is provided an inspection device for inspecting the uniformity of the gap of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel, and a light exposure device that irradiates the sealing material of the inspected liquid crystal panel with light and cures the sealing material to bond the liquid crystal panel. The present exposure apparatus is provided with a liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism. The liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism includes a pressure seal provided on the liquid crystal panel side of the photomask installed in the main exposure apparatus, a table on which the liquid crystal panel is mounted, and a table provided on the table side. And a pressure stage that can move up and down in a direction substantially perpendicular to the panel surface of the liquid crystal panel to be placed. Further, there is provided a control device for instructing the operation amount of the pressure stage based on the inspection result of the inspection device.

In the second liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, similar to the first liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus,
By pressing the convexly warped liquid crystal panel against the pressing seal by the pressing stage, the warpage is corrected, and the non-uniformity of the gap is eliminated. Then, the sealing material is exposed and cured in a state where the gap is uniform. Therefore, even if the liquid crystal panel has a larger warp than the reference value, the warp is corrected within the range of the reference value and the liquid crystal panels are bonded. Further, the operation amount of the pressure stage is instructed by the control device based on the amount of warpage of the liquid crystal panel checked by the inspection device, so that the drive amount of the pressure stage is automatically determined for the warpage of the liquid crystal panel. It is corrected by being performed.

The method of bonding the liquid crystal panels is a method in which a part of the sealing material is cured and the sealing material of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light to cure the sealing material and bond the liquid crystal panels. After temporarily fixing the liquid crystal panel, a gap state between the panels of the liquid crystal panel is inspected. As a result, when the warpage between panels where each panel warps convexly toward the outside of the liquid crystal panel is larger than a reference value, the liquid crystal panel is pressed so that the warpage is within the reference value over the entire surface between the panels. In this state, the light irradiation is performed in this state.

In the above-mentioned method of bonding liquid crystal panels, the convexly warped panel is pressed so that the warpage is within a reference value, and light is irradiated in that state to bond the liquid crystal panels. A liquid crystal panel that has been warped beyond the reference value and has been defective in the past is rescued.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment according to the first invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a main part of the present exposure apparatus, which is an essential part of a liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photomask 41 used when exposing a sealing material 52 of a liquid crystal panel 51 is provided. The photomask 41 includes, for example, a transparent glass substrate 42 and a light shielding film 43 formed on the upper surface thereof. The pressurizing seal 11 is provided on the lower surface side of the photomask 41 and below the light shielding film 43. On the other hand, a pressure stage 12 for pressing the liquid crystal panel 51 is provided below the photomask 41. The pressing stage 12 includes a pressing portion 13 and a pressing spring 14 provided below the pressing portion 13. The pressing stage 12 presses the liquid crystal panel 51 placed between the upper surface 13A of the pressing portion 13 and the pressing seal 11 by the urging force of the pressing spring 14. Are provided so as to be vertically movable with respect to the vertical direction. Thus, the pressure seal 11 and the pressure stage 1
2, the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10 is constituted.

Next, the operation of the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10 will be described. The liquid crystal panel 51 is temporarily fixed by curing a part of the sealing material 52, and is in a convexly warped state. Such a liquid crystal panel 51 is placed between the pressure seal 11 and the pressure stage 12.

Pressing stage 1 of liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10
2, the liquid crystal panel 51 is pressed by the pressure seal 11, and the convex warpage is eliminated. The pressure seal 11 is
The liquid crystal panel 51 is placed on the photomask 41 side with the pressing stage 1
2 prevents the photomask 41 from being damaged when pressed and prevents the liquid crystal panel 51 from being damaged.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When 2 is raised by a predetermined amount, the liquid crystal panel 51 is pressed toward the pressure seal by the urging force of the pressure spring 14. Thereby, the warpage of the liquid crystal panel 51 is eliminated. Then, in a state where the warpage of the liquid crystal panel 51 has been eliminated, light L (for example, ultraviolet light) is applied to the sealing material 52 for bonding the liquid crystal panel 51 to cure the sealing material 52. At this time, the light L is applied only to the sealing material 52 of the liquid crystal panel 51 by the light shielding film 43 provided on the photomask 41. Therefore, the TFT (Th
The light L is not irradiated to the region where the “In Film Transistor” is formed. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 51 is bonded by curing the sealing material 52.

Next, as a second embodiment according to the first invention, the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10 described with reference to FIG.
A device for bonding a liquid crystal panel provided with will be described with reference to the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. FIG. 3 shows the main exposure apparatus 2 which is an essential part of the liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 3, the exposure apparatus 2 has the following configuration. That is, the lamp 21 and the reflecting mirror 2 for condensing the light L of the lamp 21 and irradiating the light in one direction.
2 is provided. The light source 23
A reflecting mirror 24 for reflecting the light L in a downward direction is provided on the optical axis of the light L emitted from the light source. Masks 41 are provided in order. The photomask 41 includes, for example, a transparent glass substrate 42 and a light shielding film 43 formed on the upper surface thereof. The pressurizing seal 11 is provided on the lower surface side of the photomask 41 and below the light shielding film 43.

On the other hand, below the photomask 41, a positioning table 26 for mounting a liquid crystal panel 51 is provided. The positioning table 26 can be driven in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions by, for example, a driving device 27. In the drawings, the drive unit in the x-axis direction is shown. The driving device 27 is connected to, for example, a stepping motor 28 and a rotation shaft (not shown) of the stepping motor 28, and is rotatably supported by a support portion 29 and meshes with the driving screw 30. The drive unit 31 is driven in the direction of the arrow and is connected to the positioning table 26. In addition, an opening 32 through which a pressing portion 13 of the pressing stage 12 to be described later can be inserted is provided substantially in the center of the area of the positioning table 26 on which the liquid crystal panel 51 is mounted.

Further, below the photomask 41, a pressure stage 12 for pressing the liquid crystal panel 51 is provided. The pressure stage 12 is, for example,
3, a pressing spring 14 for urging the pressing portion 13 toward the liquid crystal panel 51 (upward), and a guide rail portion 15 for guiding the pressing portion 13 to move up and down. The pressing stage 12 is vertically movable with respect to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 51 so as to press the liquid crystal panel 51 placed between the upper surface 13A of the pressing portion 13 and the seal 11 for pressing. It is provided in. In addition, the pressurizing stage 1
An elevator 16 for raising and lowering the liquid crystal 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 51 is provided. The configuration of the lift 16 is not limited as long as the lift stage 16 is moved up and down. The pressure seal 11 and the pressure stage 1
The liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10 is constituted by 2 and the elevator 16.

In the exposure apparatus 2, as the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism 10, a pressure seal 11 is provided on the liquid crystal panel 51 side of the photomask 31, and the pressure stage is vertically movable with respect to the liquid crystal panel surface 51. 12 is provided on the positioning table 26 side.
By pressing the liquid crystal panel 51 warped in a convex shape against the pressing seal 11, the warpage is corrected. Then, the sealing material 52 is exposed and cured in the corrected state. Therefore, even in the case of the liquid crystal panel 51 whose warpage is larger than the reference value, the warpage is corrected to be within the range of the reference value and then bonded.

Next, an embodiment of a liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to the second invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, a loader 61 for storing the liquid crystal panel and delivering the liquid crystal panel to the apparatus in the next process is provided. When the liquid crystal panel is delivered from the loader 61 and the liquid crystal panel is bonded with a sealing material,
A temporary fixing exposure device 62 for temporarily fixing the liquid crystal panel by irradiating light to a part of the sealing material is provided. This drawing shows a case where two temporary fixing exposure devices 62 (62A, 62B) are installed.

Further, an inspection device 63 for inspecting the gap of the liquid crystal panel temporarily fixed by the temporary fixing exposure device 62 is provided. This inspection device 63 inspects the non-uniformity of the gap of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel by generating Newton rings in the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel. The gap state of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel, that is, the state of the warpage of each panel. To inspect.

As a result of the inspection by the inspection device 63, for example,
If the number of Newton rings generated in the liquid crystal panel is three or less, the warpage of the liquid crystal panel is within the standard, so the result is judged to be acceptable. On the other hand, when the number of Newton rings exceeds three, the rejection is made because the warpage of the liquid crystal panel exceeds the standard.

Further, there is provided a main exposure device 64 for bonding the liquid crystal panel by irradiating the sealing material of the liquid crystal panel inspected by the inspection device 63 with light to cure the sealing material. In this drawing, two main exposure apparatuses 64 are shown.
(64A, 64B) is shown. For example, the main exposure apparatus 64A is an apparatus that exposes a liquid crystal panel determined to be normal as a result of inspection by the inspection apparatus 63, and the main exposure apparatus 64B is an apparatus that exposes the inspection apparatus 6
3 is an apparatus for exposing a liquid crystal panel which is determined to be in a convexly warped state as a result of the inspection performed in Step 3. Accordingly, the main exposure apparatus 64A is a conventional one, and the main exposure apparatus 64B has the same configuration as the main exposure apparatus 2 described with reference to FIG. Although simply illustrated in the drawing, the exposure seal 64B is provided with the pressure seal 11 on the liquid crystal panel 51 side of the photomask 41, as described with reference to FIG. On the positioning table 26 side, the pressurizing stage 12 that can move up and down in the vertical direction with respect to the liquid crystal panel 51 is installed.

A control device 65 for instructing the operation amount of the pressure stage 12 of the exposure device 64B based on the inspection result of the inspection device 63 is provided. The control device 65 instructs to deliver a normal liquid crystal panel to the main exposure device 64A as a result of the inspection by the inspection device 63,
The liquid crystal panel 51 warped in a convex shape is exposed to the main exposure device 64B
, And a function to instruct other liquid crystal panels other than the above to be eliminated.

Although not shown, the control device includes, for example, an image processing device for recognizing the Newton ring shown by the inspection device 63, and a counting process for counting the number of Newton rings obtained by the image processing device. A device, an arithmetic processing device that compares the number of Newton rings calculated by the counting device with the number of reference Newton rings set in advance to determine the state of warpage of the liquid crystal panel, It comprises a delivery instruction device that feeds back to the inspection device to indicate a delivery destination of the liquid crystal panel inspected by the inspection device, and a drive control device that instructs a drive amount of the pressure stage 12 of the main exposure device 64B. The liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus 1 is configured as described above.

In the above-mentioned liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus 1,
As in the case of the exposure apparatus 2 described with reference to FIG. 3, the convexity of the liquid crystal panel 51 by the pressing stage 12 is pressed against the pressing seal 11, thereby correcting the warpage of the liquid crystal panel 51. Therefore, the non-uniformity of the gap is eliminated. Then, the sealing material 52 is exposed and cured in a state where the gap is uniform. Therefore, even if the liquid crystal panel 51 has a larger warp than the reference value, the warp is corrected within the range of the reference value, and the liquid crystal panel 51 is bonded. Further, the operation amount of the pressure stage 12 is instructed by the control device 63 based on the warpage amount of the liquid crystal panel 51 inspected by the inspection device 63. Is automatically corrected by

Next, an example of the embodiment relating to the method for bonding liquid crystal panels of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, by the "temporary fixing of the liquid crystal panel" S1, a part of the sealing material is irradiated with light (for example, ultraviolet rays) to cure the sealing material at the irradiated part and temporarily fix the liquid crystal panel. I do.

Next, in the "gap inspection" S2, the gap state between the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panels, that is, the panel interval is inspected. If the gap state between the panels is within the standard value, it is determined that the liquid crystal panel is "normal", and the liquid crystal panel is instructed to expose the sealing material by a normal main exposure method, and "normal main exposure" S3 is performed. . In the “normal main exposure” S3, the sealing material of the liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light (for example, ultraviolet rays) to cure the sealing material and bond the liquid crystal panels.

On the other hand, when the gap state between the panels is out of the standard value and the liquid crystal panel is warped in a convex shape, it is determined that "there is a convex warp" and the main exposure is performed by correcting the warp of the liquid crystal panel. And performs “main exposure with warpage corrected” S4. In the “main exposure with corrected warpage” S4, the liquid crystal panel is pressed so that the amount of warpage between the panels is within the reference value because the liquid crystal panel is warped outward in a convex shape. Then, the liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light (for example, ultraviolet light) of the sealing material of the liquid crystal panel in a state where the warpage is corrected, and the sealing material is cured, and the liquid crystal panels are bonded.

It is determined that the liquid crystal panel other than the above is "defective", and the liquid crystal panel is discarded by "discard" S5.

In the method of bonding liquid crystal panels described above, a convexly warped panel is pressed to set the warp within a reference value, and light is irradiated in that state to bond the liquid crystal panels. A liquid crystal panel that has been warped beyond the reference value and has been defective in the past is rescued.

[0036]

As described above, according to the invention of the first liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, a pressure seal is provided on the photomask surface on the upper surface side of the liquid crystal panel, so that the liquid crystal panel surface can be substantially sealed. Since the pressurizing stage that can move up and down in the vertical direction is provided on the lower surface side of the liquid crystal panel, the warpage can be corrected by pressing the convexly warped liquid crystal panel against the pressurizing seal by the pressurizing stage. Since the sealing material of the liquid crystal panel can be exposed in the corrected state, even if the liquid crystal panel has a larger warp than the reference value, the warp can be corrected within the range of the reference value and bonded. . Therefore, it is possible to repair a liquid crystal panel which has been a defective product in the past and obtain a non-defective product, thereby improving the yield.

According to the invention of the second liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, the same effect as that of the first liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus can be obtained, and based on the amount of warpage of the liquid crystal panel examined by the inspection apparatus. Since the operation amount of the pressing stage is instructed by the control device, the warpage of the liquid crystal panel can be corrected by automatically determining the change in the pressing force of the pressing stage.

According to the invention of the method for bonding liquid crystal panels, the convexly warped panel is pressed so that the warp is within a reference value, and light is irradiated in that state to bond the liquid crystal panels. A liquid crystal panel that has been warped to a value equal to or greater than the reference value and has been defective in the past is rescued. As a result, the yield can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a first embodiment of a liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to the first invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of exposure when a liquid crystal panel is corrected.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to the first invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment relating to a liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to a second invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment relating to a method of bonding liquid crystal panels according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 LCD panel pressing mechanism 11 Pressure seal
12 pressure stage 41 photomask 51 liquid crystal panel 52 sealing material

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus for irradiating a sealing material for bonding a liquid crystal panel with light through a photomask and curing the sealing material, wherein the sealing material is cured on the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism comprising a pressure seal provided on the liquid crystal panel side of the photomask, and a pressure stage provided on the lower surface side of the liquid crystal panel and capable of moving up and down in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel surface. An apparatus for bonding a liquid crystal panel, comprising: 2. The liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism includes an elevator that raises and lowers the pressure stage in a direction perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel surface. A liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, characterized in that a table is provided, and an opening through which the pressure stage can be inserted is provided substantially at the center of a portion where the liquid crystal panel is placed on the table. 3. A temporary fixing exposure device for temporarily fixing a liquid crystal panel by irradiating a part of the sealing material with a liquid crystal panel when bonding the liquid crystal panel with the sealing material. A liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus comprising: an inspection apparatus for inspection; and a main exposure apparatus for bonding the liquid crystal panels by irradiating the sealing material of the inspected liquid crystal panel with light to cure the sealing material. A pressure seal provided on the liquid crystal panel side of the photomask to be installed; a table on which the liquid crystal panel is mounted in the main exposure apparatus; and a table provided on the table side, on the panel surface of the liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism comprising a pressing stage that can be raised and lowered in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel. What is claimed is: 1. A liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, comprising: a control device for instructing a movement amount of a stage. 4. The liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal panel pressing mechanism includes an elevator for vertically moving the pressure stage with respect to the liquid crystal panel. And a through hole through which the pressure stage can be inserted at a substantially central portion of a portion of the table on which the liquid crystal panel is placed. 5. A method for bonding a liquid crystal panel, wherein a part of the sealing material is cured and the sealing material of the temporarily fixed liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light to cure the sealing material and bond the liquid crystal panel. After temporarily fixing the liquid crystal panel, after inspecting the uniformity of the gap between the panels of the liquid crystal panel, as a result of the inspection, the gap is non-uniform and each panel is convex toward the outside of the liquid crystal panel. When the amount of warpage between the panels is larger than a reference value, the light irradiation is performed while the liquid crystal panel is pressed so that the amount of warpage is within the reference value over the entire surface between the panels. A liquid crystal panel bonding method characterized by the following.