JPH1152320A - Method and device for assembling and sticking cell for liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the production efficiency of a cell for liquid crystal display and to improve reliability while obtaining a uniform and stable gap. SOLUTION: Two glass base plates for liquid crystal display having a transparent electrode and a molecular orientation layer are aligned and superposed in a state where an ultraviolet curing type sealing agent and a spacer intervene by a cell assembling means 12 in the supply part of a carrying means 13. Then, before a cell assembly 6 is carried, it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays as necessary and temporarily fixed by somewhat curing the ultraviolet curing type sealing agent. The assembly 6 is carried by the carrying means 13 and pressured by a pressuring means 14 in the middle of carrying, then it is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet ray irradiating lamp 100 so as to cure the ultraviolet curing type sealing agent.

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 assembling and bonding cells for a liquid crystal display used for assembling and bonding cells in a process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To manufacture a cell for a liquid crystal display, as an example, first, a spacer is sprayed inside one of two glass substrates having a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer. A thermosetting sealant such as an epoxy resin adhesive is applied by a dispenser or the like, and an ultraviolet curable resin is applied to the corners. Next, the two glass substrates are aligned using an image processing technique, overlapped and temporarily press-bonded, and the ultraviolet curable resin is cured and temporarily fixed by ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet irradiation lamp. Next, 50 to 100 sets of the cell assemblies temporarily fixed as described above are mounted on the fixed plate, and the pressing plate is lowered by the driving means to press the cell assemblies. The thermosetting sealant is cured by heating for several hours by a heater arranged in the above, and the final pressure bonding (lamination) is completed. After bonding the cell assembly, the cell assembly is left to cool to room temperature by natural cooling, the pressure plate is raised by the driving means, and the cell assembly is released and taken out.

[0003]

However, in the prior art as described above, heating for about 3 hours at a high temperature of about 160.degree.
This is inefficient because the laminating operation can be performed only two cycles a day with one apparatus. Further, when the heating is performed at a high temperature for a long time as described above, the fixing plate and the pressing plate may be thermally deformed, and it is difficult to uniformly press the cell assembly to obtain a uniform and stable gap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is possible to assemble and bond liquid crystal display cells in a short time and at a low temperature which does not adversely affect the pressure plate. In addition, the cell assembly, pressurization, and ultraviolet irradiation can be performed continuously, so that the production efficiency can be improved, and a uniform and stable gap can be obtained to improve reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling and bonding a cell for a liquid crystal display and an apparatus therefor.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method for assembling and bonding a cell for a liquid crystal display according to the present invention comprises the steps of: transporting two glass substrates for a liquid crystal display having a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer; In the supply unit, the cell assembly is positioned and overlapped with the interposition of an ultraviolet-curing sealant and a spacer, the cell assembly is transported by the transporting means, and the cell assembly is pressurized and irradiated with ultraviolet light during the transport. Then, the ultraviolet curable sealant is cured.

In the above-mentioned assembling and bonding method, it is preferable that the cell assembly is irradiated with ultraviolet rays before the cell assembly is transported, and the ultraviolet-curable sealing agent is slightly cured and temporarily fixed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to the present invention comprises an ultraviolet-curable sealant provided in a supply section with two glass substrates for a liquid crystal display having a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer. And a cell assembling means that is positioned and overlapped by the interposition of a spacer, a transporting means for intermittently transporting the cell assembly assembled in the supply unit, and a pair of pressure plates that can be approached and separated, Pressing means having driving means for driving the cell assembly conveyed by the conveying means to be pressed by the pressing plate; and irradiating the cell assembly pressurized by the pressing means with ultraviolet rays. And an ultraviolet irradiation means for curing the ultraviolet-curable sealant.

In the above-mentioned assembling and laminating apparatus, there are provided detecting means for detecting a load and a gap when the cell assembly is pressed by the pressing plate, respectively.
Cell assembling means irradiates the cell assembly with ultraviolet light, has ultraviolet irradiation means for temporarily curing the ultraviolet-curable sealant and temporarily fixing the same, and upon pressurizing the cell assembly,
A gas flow path for sucking the cell assembly or releasing the pressurized cell assembly is provided in the pressure plate on the side where the cell assembly is moved, and one of the pressure plates is fixed and the other is fixed. Is preferably movable, the fixed pressure plate is formed of an ultraviolet transmitting material, and the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiating means is transmitted to irradiate the cell assembly.

According to the present invention, since a cell for a liquid crystal display is assembled using an ultraviolet-curable sealing agent,
It can be assembled and bonded in a short time and at a low temperature that does not adversely affect the pressure plate, and
The cell assembly, pressurization, and ultraviolet irradiation can be performed continuously.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 to 5 show a liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway schematic front view, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view, and FIG. 4 and 5 are partially cutaway side views for explaining the pressurizing / ultraviolet irradiation operation, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for assembling and bonding a liquid crystal display cell.

In order to manufacture a cell for a liquid crystal display, as an example, as shown in FIG. 6, first, as shown in FIG. 6, two glass substrates in which a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer (both not shown) are sequentially laminated on the inner surface side. Of the glass substrates 1 and 2, an ultraviolet curable sealant 3 is applied around the inner surface of the glass substrate 1 on the front side except for a part to be a liquid crystal injection section, and the liquid crystal injection section is formed around the inner surface of the glass substrate 2 on the rear side. A paste 4 is applied, leaving a part of the glass beads, and glass beads 5 having a desired particle diameter serving as spacers are sprayed. Next, the two glass substrates 1 and 2 are aligned, overlapped with the ultraviolet-curable sealant 3 and the glass beads 5 and temporarily pressed to form the cell assembly 6.
Next, while the cell assembly 6 is pressurized, ultraviolet rays are irradiated in this pressurized state to cure the ultraviolet-curable sealant 3, and the glass substrates 1 and 2 are bonded and sealed.

The assembling and bonding apparatus according to the present embodiment is for manufacturing the above-mentioned cell for a liquid crystal display, and as shown in FIGS.
, A cell assembly 13 for intermittently transporting the assembled cell assembly 6, and a pressurizing unit 14 provided in the middle of the transport unit 13 to pressurize the cell assembly 6 to be transported. And the cell assembly 6 in a pressurized state.
And an ultraviolet irradiation means 15 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the surface.

The transport means 13 will be described. A pair of support portions 17 are provided on the upper portion of the frame 16 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction.
Are projected in opposition to each other, and the shafts 19 of the plurality of sets of transport rollers 18 are rotatably supported by bearings 20 at desired intervals corresponding to the two support portions 17. A timing belt pulley 21 is fixed on a shaft 19 outside each transport roller 18, and a timing belt 22 is hung endlessly on each row of the timing belt pulleys 21. One of the pair of transport rollers 18 is connected by a shaft 19a, and a sprocket 23 is mounted on an end of the shaft 19a. A step motor 24 is mounted on the frame 16, a sprocket 25 is mounted on an output shaft of the step motor 24, and a chain 26 is hung on the sprocket 25 and the sprocket 23.
Then, the pair of transport rollers 18 are intermittently rotated via the sprocket 25, the chain 26, the sprocket 23 and the like by the driving of the step motor 24, and accordingly, the timing belt pulley 21 and the timing belt 22 are rotated.
, Each of the transport rollers 18 can be intermittently rotated, and the cell assembly 6 can be placed on the transport rollers 18 on both sides and intermittently transported.

To explain the supply unit 11, a support 27 is mounted on the frame 16, and a slide bush 28 is mounted on the support 27 so as to be located at four corners of a square. A guide rod 30 is attached to the lower side of the corner of the supply table 29 so as to hang down.
0 is slidably inserted into the slide bush 28, and the supply table 29 is supported so as to be able to move up and down. A groove 31 for allowing the transport roller 18 to escape is formed in the supply table 29 so that the transport roller 18 does not hinder the ascent and descent.
The base of the hydraulic cylinder device 33 is connected to the substrate 32 at the lower end of the frame 16, and the tip of the piston rod 34 of the hydraulic cylinder device 33 is connected to the center of the connecting plate 35 Are linked. Then, the supply table 29 is moved up and down by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 34 of the hydraulic cylinder device 33. Air flow paths 36 are vertically penetrated at a plurality of locations on both sides of the supply table 29, and the lower end of each flow path 36 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) by a pipe 37. Then, the pipe 3 is driven by driving the vacuum source.
The air can be sucked from the flow channel 36 through the channel 7. In the supply table 29, the optical fiber 3 is inserted into a hole formed at one corner in the diagonal direction and formed in the vertical direction.
8 is fixed with one end inserted, and the ultraviolet light for temporary fixing is emitted upward through the optical fiber 38. Above the supply table 29, an imaging camera 39 for positioning the glass substrates 1 and 2 is provided at the other diagonal corner.

The cell assembling means 12 will be described.
On one side of the supply table 29, an elevating table 41 is provided inside the frame 40 so as to be able to move only up and down, and is moved up and down by an elevating device. As an example thereof, as is apparent from FIG. 3, support stands 43 and 44 are attached to the upper end and the lower part of the frame 40, respectively.
The upper and lower ends of a vertically arranged screw shaft 45 are rotatably supported on the screw shaft 45.
The screw hole 46 at the base of the first screw is screwed. A motor 47 is supported on the support base 44, and a timing belt pulley 48 mounted on an output shaft of the motor 47 and a screw shaft 4
The timing belt 50 is hung on the timing belt pulley 49 attached to the lower protruding end of the timing belt 5. When the motor 47 is driven, the screw shaft 45 is rotated in any direction via the timing belt pulley 48, the timing belt 50, the timing belt pulley 49, and the like, and is screwed to the screw shaft 45 accordingly. The elevator 41 is moved up and down.

A glass substrate 1 on the front side, on which a transparent electrode and a molecular orientation layer are sequentially laminated on the inner side, is placed on the lift table 41 at the lowered position.
Are stacked with the inner surface facing upward. Reference members 51 and 52 having an arcuate surface for positioning the uppermost glass substrate 1 at a reference position are provided on the frame 40.
Are fixed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) so as to correspond to two sides of the glass substrate 1 at right angles to each other.
The uppermost glass substrate 1 is attached to the reference members 51 and 52 by expansion and contraction of piston rods 55 and 56 of air cylinder devices 53 and 54 arranged corresponding to the reference members 51 and 52, respectively.
2 is pressed against the arc-shaped surface and is aligned with the reference position. At this time, each of the air cylinder devices 53 and 54 has, for example, a roller 57 and 58 that can rotate around a vertical axis at the tip of piston rods 55 and 56.
Is in contact with the end surface of the glass substrate 1 so that the glass substrate 1 can be smoothly moved and positioned.

An X-ray is positioned outside the glass substrate 1 and above.
A Y stage 60 is provided. The XY stage 60 is configured such that the Y-axis stage 62 can move in the X-axis direction with respect to the X-axis stage 61 by driving a motor 63 via power transmission means (not shown). Y
The movable stage 64 is provided on the axis stage 62 so as to be movable along the Y-axis direction by driving a motor 65 via power transmission means (not shown). A dispenser 66 for applying an ultraviolet-curable sealant is attached to the movable base 64, and the dispenser 66 is supplied with an ultraviolet-curable sealant from a supply source (not shown).

On the other side of the supply table 29, the frame 67
An elevating table 68 is supported on the inside so as to be able to elevate only, and is elevated by an elevating device 69 including a power transmission means such as a motor 47 and a screw shaft 45 in the same manner as described above. On the elevating table 29 at the lowered position, a transparent electrode and a molecular orientation layer are sequentially laminated on the inner surface side, and a large number of glass substrates 2 on the rear surface side on which the glass beads 5 are dispersed are stacked with the inner surface side facing downward. I have. On the frame 67, reference members 70 and 71 each having an arc surface for positioning the uppermost glass substrate 2 at the reference position are provided at a plurality of positions (in the illustrated example) so as to correspond to two sides of the glass substrate 2 at right angles. In two places). The uppermost glass substrate 2 is pressed against the arc-shaped surfaces of the reference members 70 and 71 by the expansion and contraction of the piston rods 74 and 75 of the air cylinder devices 72 and 73 arranged so as to correspond to the respective reference members 70 and 71. And is aligned with the reference position. At this time, in each of the air cylinder devices 72 and 73, rollers 76 and 77, which are rotatable around a vertical axis at the ends of the piston rods 74 and 75, come into contact with the end surface of the glass substrate 2 to smoothly move the glass substrate 2. Positioning can be done.

An XY stage 78 is provided in front of the supply table 29 and the lift tables 41 and 68. This X-
The Y-stage 78 is moved along the Y-axis direction with respect to the Y-axis stage 79 through the power transmission means (not shown) by the driving of the motor 81 by the X-axis stage 80, that is, the supply table 29,
It is configured to be able to move along the parallel direction of the lift tables 41 and 68. The X-axis stage 79 is provided with a movable base 82 which can be moved along the X-axis direction by driving a motor (not shown) via power transmission means (not shown). An arm 83 is attached to the movable base 82, and suction nozzles 85 are attached to four corners of a support plate 84 disposed below the distal end of the arm 83. Each suction nozzle 85 is connected to a vacuum source via a pipe (not shown). Have been. The support plate 84 and the suction nozzle 85 are moved up and down by the operation of an air cylinder device 86 supported by the arm 83.

The pressurizing means 14 will be described. The pressurizing means has an open portion at the upper central portion so as to allow passage of the cell assembly 6 conveyed by the timing belt 22 and the conveying roller 18 in the intermediate portion of the conveying means 13. An irradiation chamber 101 is provided, and a frame 16 is provided in the chamber 101.
Transport rollers 1 at the four corners on the substrate 87 attached to the
A guide post 88 is provided upright on the outer side of the guide post 8. A fixed pressure plate 8 is provided between the upper ends of the guide posts 88.
The fixed pressure plate 89 is formed of an ultraviolet transmitting material such as quartz glass or transparent acrylic resin. An elevating table 90 is supported on the guide post 88 by a slide bush 91 so as to be able to move up and down. Substrate 8
7, a hydraulic cylinder device 92 is attached, a piston rod 93 of the hydraulic cylinder device 92 is connected to the lower surface of the central portion of the lifting platform 90, and the lifting platform 90 is moved to the guide post 88 by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 93 of the hydraulic cylinder device 92. It is designed to be raised and lowered along. Four corners of a movable pressing plate 94 for pressing the cell assembly 6 conveyed by the conveying roller 18 to the fixed pressing plate 89 and located below the fixed pressing plate 89 above the elevating table 90. Adjustable connecting member 95 so that the height can be adjusted by screws
And a load cell (not shown). Accordingly, the movable pressure plate 94 is moved up and down together with the lift table 90 with the pressure surface parallel to the fixed pressure plate 89.

Grooves 96 are formed on both sides of the movable pressure plate 94 to allow the transport rollers 18 to escape, and both ends of the movable pressure plate 94 in the transport direction of the cell assembly 6 are located at both ends of the cell assembly 6. When the cell assembly 6 is pressed against the fixed pressure plate 89 by raising the movable pressure plate 94, almost the entire surface of the cell assembly 6 can be pressed. . The gap between the glass substrates 1 and 2 in the cell assembly 6 which is pressed by these pressure plates 89 and 94 is detected by a gap detector (not shown). Movable pressure plate 94
An air flow path 97 is vertically penetrated at a plurality of positions on both sides, and the lower end of each flow path 97 is switchably connected to a vacuum source and an air supply source (not shown) via a pipe 98 via a valve. Have been. Then, the valve is switched to the vacuum source side, and the vacuum source is driven through the pipe 98 through the pipe 98.
7, the valve is switched to the air supply source side, and the pipe 9 is driven by the air supply source.
Air can be supplied to the flow path 97 via the pressure 8 to make it normal pressure.

The UV irradiation means 15 will be described.
A dome-shaped reflecting plate 99 is attached to the outer periphery of the upper surface of the fixed pressure plate 89, and an ultraviolet irradiation lamp 100 is supported inside the top of the reflecting plate 99. The ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 100 is fixed. The pressure plate 89 is irradiated and transmitted.

Next, a method of assembling and bonding a cell for a liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described together with the operation of the assembling and bonding apparatus. First, the uppermost glass substrate 1 is pressed against the reference members 51 and 52 by operating the air cylinder devices 53 and 54 as described above, and is positioned at the reference position. Next, by driving the motors 63 and 65, the Y-axis stage 62 and the movable base 64, that is, the dispenser 6
6 is moved along the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction, so that the ultraviolet-curable sealant 3 is applied around the glass substrate 1 except for a part serving as a liquid crystal injection portion (see FIG. 6). After the coating, the dispenser 66 is driven by driving the motors 63 and 65.
Is moved outward of the glass substrate 1.

Next, the movable table 82, the arm 83, the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85, etc. are advanced along the X-axis direction by driving the motor, and the suction nozzle 85 of the support plate 84 is moved above the center of the glass substrate 1. Position. Next, the air cylinder device 86 is operated to support the support plate 84 and the suction nozzle 85.
Is lowered, the tip of the suction nozzle 85 is brought into contact with the glass substrate 1, and the glass substrate 1 is sucked by driving the vacuum source. Next, the glass substrate 1 is released by operating the air cylinder devices 53 and 54, and subsequently, the glass substrate 1 sucked by the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85 and the suction nozzle 85 by operating the air cylinder device 86. To rise. Next, the X-axis stage 80, the movable base 82, the arm 83, the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85, the glass substrate 1 and the like are moved in the Y-axis direction (the direction of the supply table 29) by driving the motor 81,
By the operation of the hydraulic cylinder device 33, the supply table 29 raised above the transport roller 18 as shown by a chain line in FIG.
Glass substrate 1 is positioned above.

Next, the glass substrate 1 is
The diagonal corners are imaged, image-processed and compared with the reference pattern, and if they are misaligned, the movable table 82, arm 83, support plate 84, suction nozzle 85,
Finely adjust the glass substrate 1 etc. along the X-axis direction.
Axis stage 80, movable base 82, arm 83, support plate 8
4. Fine adjustment of the suction nozzle 85, the glass substrate 1 and the like is performed along the Y-axis direction, and the glass substrate 1 is positioned so as to match the reference pattern. Next, the air cylinder device 86 is operated to lower the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85, and the glass substrate 1, and put the glass substrate 1 on the supply table 29.
Then, the glass substrate 1 is positioned on the supply table 29 by the flow path 36 that becomes a negative pressure by driving the vacuum source, while driving the vacuum source is stopped to release the glass substrate 1 from suction by the suction nozzle 85.

Next, the air nozzle 86 is operated to release the support plate 84 and the glass substrate 1, and the suction nozzle 8 is released.
Increase 5 Next, the X-axis stage 80, the movable base 82, the arm 83, the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85, and the like are moved in the Y-axis direction by driving the motor 81, and the suction nozzle 85 is moved.
Is positioned above the center of the glass substrate 2 (see FIG. 6) to which the glass beads have been applied. During this time, the uppermost glass substrate 2 on the elevating table 68 is pressed against the reference members 70 and 71 by operating the air cylinder devices 72 and 73 as described above to align the glass substrate 2 with the reference device.

Next, the support plate 84 and the suction nozzle 85 are lowered by operating the air cylinder device 86, the tip of the suction nozzle 85 is brought into contact with the glass substrate 2, and the glass substrate 2 is sucked by driving the vacuum source. . Next, the glass substrate 2 is released by operating the air cylinder devices 72 and 73, and subsequently, the support plate 84 is operated by operating the air cylinder device 86.
The suction nozzle 85 and the glass substrate 2 sucked by the suction nozzle 85 are raised. Next, the X-axis stage 80, the movable base 82, the arm 83, the support plate 84, the suction nozzle 85, the glass substrate 2 and the like are moved in the Y-axis direction (the direction of the supply table 29) by the driving of the motor 81, and The glass substrate 2 is positioned above the glass substrate 1 of FIG.

Next, in the same manner as described above, the diagonal corners of the glass substrate 2 are imaged by the imaging camera 39, image-processed and compared with the reference pattern. Then, the suction nozzle 85, the glass substrate 2 and the like are finely adjusted along the X-ray direction and the Y-axis direction, and the glass substrate 2 is positioned so as to match the reference pattern, that is, the glass substrate 1 thereunder (FIG. 6). reference). Next, the air cylinder device 86 is operated to support the support plate 84 and the suction nozzle 85.
Then, the glass substrate 2 is lowered, and the glass substrate 2 is temporarily press-bonded to the glass substrate 1 via the ultraviolet-curable sealant 3 to form the cell assembly 6 (see FIG. 6). In this state, ultraviolet light is applied to the diagonal corners of the cell assembly 6 via the optical fiber 38, and the ultraviolet curable sealant 3 in that part is slightly cured and temporarily fixed.

Next, the driving of the vacuum source is stopped to release the glass substrate 2 from suction by the suction nozzle 85. Next, the air cylinder device 86 is operated to raise the suction nozzle 85 that has released the support plate 84 and the glass substrate 2. Subsequently, the X-axis stage 80, the movable base 82, the arm 83, the support plate 84, suction nozzle 85, etc.
It is returned in the axial direction (the glass substrate 1 side). During this time, the supply cylinder 29 and the cell assembly 6 are lowered as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The driving of the vacuum source is stopped, the flow path 36 is set to the atmospheric pressure, the glass substrate 1 is released, and the cell assembly 6 is placed on the transport roller 18 rotated by the driving of the step motor 24 as described above.
Put both sides of. Then, the cell assembly 6 is transported to the pressurizing means 14 by the rotation of the transport roller 18 and stopped.

Next, the vacuum source is driven to suck the fluid from the flow passage 97 of the movable pressurizing plate 94, and as shown in FIG. The pressure plate 94 is raised. During this ascent, the cell assembly 6 on the transport roller 18 is positioned on the movable pressure plate 94 by suction from the flow path 97. Then, the positioned cell assembly 6
Is pressed against the fixed pressure plate 89, and the cell assembly 6 is pressed by both pressure plates 89 and 94. The pressure load is managed by receiving the surface pressure applied to the cell assembly 6 at the time of pressurization by the load cell, and the gap is managed by detecting the gap between the glass substrates 1 and 2 by the gap detector. The entire cell assembly 6 can be uniformly pressed to obtain a uniform gap.

While the cell assembly 6 is pressurized by both pressurizing plates 89 and 94, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 100 is turned on to emit ultraviolet light, and this ultraviolet light is used for fixing the pressurizing plate 89 made of quartz glass or the like. , And irradiate the cell assembly 6 to cure the ultraviolet-curable sealant 3 and bond it. At this time, in particular, by using quartz glass as the fixed pressure plate 89, the transmission efficiency of the ultraviolet rays is excellent, and the heat generation at the time of transmitting the ultraviolet rays can be reduced. The ultraviolet curing sealant 3 can be cured for about 20 to 40 seconds and at a low temperature of about 80 ° C. while rising, so that the influence of the temperature on the pressing surfaces of the pressing plates 89 and 94 is affected. And it is easy to secure flatness.

After the cell assembly 6 is bonded as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 100 is turned off, the piston rod 93 of the hydraulic cylinder device 92 is contracted, and the elevating table 90, the movable pressure plate 94, and the cell assembly 6 is lowered.
In the course of this descent, by switching the valve from the vacuum source to the air supply source as described above, and driving the air supply source to supply air to the flow path 97 of the movable pressurizing plate 94,
The cell assembly 6 suctioned by the movable pressure plate 94 can be released and placed on the transport roller 18. Then, by rotating the conveying roller 18 as described above, the sheet can be conveyed to the discharge section or the next step.

Each time the glass substrates 1 and 2 on the lift tables 41 and 68 are assembled as the cell assembly 6, the lift tables 41 and 68 are used.
Is raised by the lifting devices 42 and 69 to raise the glass substrates 1 and 2 sequentially. Then, by repeating the same operation as described above, the cell assemblies 6 can be sequentially assembled and bonded.

When the cell assemblies 6 are pressurized by the pressurizing plates 89 and 94, a nonwoven fabric made of quartz glass fiber may be adhered to the pressurizing surfaces to prevent air contact. , The flow path 97 and the like may be omitted. Further, the spacer between the glass substrates 1 and 2 is not limited to glass beads, and this spacer is mixed with the UV-curable sealant 3 so that the UV-curable sealant 3 It may be applied together. Further, as the transporting means 13, a means different from the transporting roller 18 or the like can be used. In addition, the present invention can be variously changed in design without departing from the basic technical idea.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the cell for the liquid crystal display is assembled by using the ultraviolet-curable sealant, it does not adversely affect the pressure plate in a short time. The cell can be assembled and bonded at such a low temperature, and the cell assembly, pressurization, and ultraviolet irradiation can be performed continuously. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved, and a uniform and stable gap can be obtained, so that the reliability can be improved.

Further, before transporting the cell assembly, the cell assembly is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet curing sealant is slightly cured and temporarily fixed, so that no special means is required for the transport means. Simplification can be achieved, and the temporary fixing is also performed by the sealant for the final press-bonding, so that the number of application steps can be reduced and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, by providing a detecting means for detecting the load and the gap when the cell assembly is pressed by the pressing plate, the cell assembly can be formed in a uniform gap, and the reliability is improved. be able to.

When the cell assembly is pressurized, a gas flow path for sucking the cell assembly or releasing the pressurized cell assembly is provided on the pressure plate on the side where the cell assembly is moved. Thus, the pressing operation of the cell assembly can be easily and reliably performed, and the cell assembly after the pressing and bonding can be easily and reliably separated from the pressing plate.

Further, one of the pressure plates is fixed and the other is movable, the fixed pressure plate is formed of an ultraviolet transmitting material, and the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiating means is transmitted to irradiate the cell assembly. With this configuration, the entire UV-curable sealant can be cured almost uniformly, and the reliability of the seal can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the cell assembling and bonding apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows the cell assembling / bonding apparatus, and FIG.
It is an arrow A side view.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken side view showing a pressurizing / ultraviolet irradiation means in the cell assembling / bonding apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view similar to FIG. 4 for explaining a pressurizing / ultraviolet irradiation operation in the cell assembling / bonding apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an assembling and bonding process of a liquid crystal display cell by the cell assembling and bonding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 glass substrate 2 glass substrate 3 ultraviolet curable sealant 5 glass beads 6 cell assembly 11 supply unit 12 cell assembly means 13 transport means 14 pressing means 15 ultraviolet irradiation means 18 transport roller 29 supply table 38 optical fiber 39 imaging camera 41 Lifting table 42 Lifting device 60 XY stage 66 Dispenser 68 Lifting table 69 Lifting device 78-Y stage 85 Suction nozzle 86 Air cylinder device 89 Fixed pressing plate 90 Lifting table 92 Hydraulic cylinder device 94 Movable pressing plate 97 Flow path 100 UV irradiation lamp

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cell assembly comprising two glass substrates for a liquid crystal display having a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer, which are positioned and overlapped with each other by an ultraviolet-curable sealant and a spacer in a supply section of a transport means. A method for assembling and bonding a cell for a liquid crystal display, wherein a solid is conveyed by the conveying means, and the cell assembly is pressurized in the course of the conveyance and irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet curable sealant. 2. The liquid crystal display cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cell assembly is irradiated with ultraviolet rays before transporting the cell assembly, and the ultraviolet curing sealant is slightly cured and temporarily fixed. Matching method. 3. A cell assembling means in which two glass substrates for a liquid crystal display having a transparent electrode and a molecular alignment layer are aligned and overlapped in a supply section with an ultraviolet-curable sealant and a spacer interposed therebetween. Conveying means for intermittently conveying the cell assembly assembled by the supply unit, a pair of pressure plates which can be approached and separated, and pressurize the cell assembly conveyed by the conveying means by the pressing plate. A liquid crystal comprising: a pressing unit having a driving unit for driving the cell assembly; and an ultraviolet irradiation unit for irradiating the cell assembly pressurized by the pressing unit with ultraviolet light to cure the ultraviolet-curable sealant. Display cell assembly and bonding equipment. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising detecting means for detecting a load and a gap when the cell assembly is pressed by the pressing plate. 5. The cell assembling means has an ultraviolet irradiating means for irradiating the cell assembly with ultraviolet rays to slightly cure and temporarily fix the ultraviolet-curable sealant.
A liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus as described in the above. 6. A pressurizing plate for moving the cell assembly when the cell assembly is pressurized is provided with a gas flow path for sucking the cell assembly or releasing the pressurized cell assembly. A liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5. 7. One of the pressure plates is fixed and the other is movable, and the fixed pressure plate is made of an ultraviolet transmitting material, so that the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiating means is transmitted to irradiate the cell assembly. The liquid crystal display cell assembling and bonding apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: