KR100667988B1 - Aappratus for sealing liquid crystal panel and method for sealing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

In the process of encapsulating the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal panel in which the liquid crystal is injected, ultraviolet rays are shielded between the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal panel, and the ultraviolet rays irradiated during the process of encapsulating the liquid crystal inlet are applied to the liquid crystal alignment around the liquid crystal inlet. By preventing the influence, it is possible to prevent abnormality in liquid crystal alignment caused by ultraviolet rays.

Description

Apparatus for sealing liquid crystal panel and method for sealing the same}

1 is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal inlet encapsulation system of a liquid crystal panel;

2 is a perspective view illustrating a process of applying an encapsulant to a liquid crystal injection hole;

3 is a perspective view illustrating a process of curing the encapsulant filled in the liquid crystal inlet by an ultraviolet beam device;

4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a liquid crystal panel and an ultraviolet shielding means according to the present invention;

5 is a schematic plan view of the ultraviolet shielding means according to the present invention;

6 is a side view of the ultraviolet shielding means according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view enlarging C of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view enlarging A and B of FIG. 5;

9A to 9B are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of mounting the ultraviolet shielding means according to the present invention on the liquid crystal encapsulation system, respectively.

10 is a configuration diagram of a cassette on which a plurality of panels are mounted and a frame for preventing ultraviolet rays.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

111 liquid crystal panel 113 shielding means

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for encapsulating a liquid crystal inlet during a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, after a liquid crystal is injected into a liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal inlet is injected. It relates to a sealing method and a sealing device thereof.

In general, a liquid crystal panel includes a lower substrate on which hundreds of thousands of switching devices are formed in a matrix form, an upper substrate disposed at a predetermined distance from the lower substrate, and between the lower substrate and the upper substrate. It consists of liquid crystal filled in.

1 is a perspective view briefly illustrating a liquid crystal encapsulation system for a liquid crystal encapsulation as described above.

In general, a main system required for encapsulating a liquid crystal panel includes a fixing part (not shown) for fixing the plurality of liquid crystal panels at predetermined intervals, and a cassette into which the fixing part including the plurality of liquid crystal panels is inserted and mounted. (3).

On the upper portion of the cassette 3, a pair of circular pillars 5 positioned in one direction and spaced apart in parallel by a predetermined interval is fixed.

At this time, the fixing part (not shown) to which the plurality of liquid crystal panels 10 are fixed is inserted into the cassette 3 from the lower part of the cassette, so as to be close to the circular column 5 mounted on the upper part of the cassette. Is fixed in position.

After fixing the plurality of liquid crystal panels 10 in the cassette 3, the sealing operation of the liquid crystal inlet 15 of the liquid crystal panel 10 is performed, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a schematic perspective view showing a sealing method of a conventional liquid crystal inlet.

As shown, in order to encapsulate the liquid crystal inlet, an encapsulant providing means 19 is placed on the liquid crystal inlet 15 of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the encapsulant 18, which is a polymer material, is disposed. The liquid crystal inlet 15 was filled and sealed in the liquid crystal inlet 15.

In general, the encapsulant used to encapsulate the liquid crystal inlet 15 is a UV curable material having a property of being cured by ultraviolet (UV).

Currently, the liquid crystal panel inlet encapsulation process of the liquid crystal display device mass production process adopts the "encapsulation process" using "ultraviolet curable resin" which is cured by strong ultraviolet rays as an encapsulant. The feeding encapsulation process uses a method of encapsulating the inlet as it is without introducing a structure at all, unlike a "pressing encapsulation process" in which a pressure plate is placed on the front and rear surfaces of the substrate to seal the inlet with pressure.

Hereinafter, a method of encapsulating the liquid crystal inlet by the "feed encapsulation system" will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a curing process of an encapsulant for encapsulating a conventional liquid crystal panel.

Following the process of Figure 2, the light irradiation means 21 for emitting light on the liquid crystal injection hole 15 filled with the encapsulant 18 is located.

The light irradiation means 21 is an ultraviolet beam device 21 for irradiating the encapsulant with ultraviolet light, which is a means for curing the encapsulant 18.

When the light is emitted to the encapsulant 18 by using the ultraviolet beam device 21, the ultraviolet ray diffracts not only the liquid crystal inlet 15 of the liquid crystal panel but also the peripheral region of the liquid crystal inlet 15. Naturally, the liquid crystal around the liquid crystal inlet 15 is also affected.

This problem is particularly serious in liquid crystal panels employing light alignment using UV light instead of mechanical rubbing.

In general, the strength of the ultraviolet light for curing the encapsulant has an intensity that is at least 10 times the intensity of the ultraviolet light used in the general liquid crystal alignment.

Therefore, when the encapsulant 18 is applied to the ultraviolet alignment panel 10 to encapsulate the injection hole 15, the ultraviolet alignment panel 10 is cured while the encapsulant 18 is cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Inevitably, the liquid crystal around the injection hole 15 is subject to orientation damage in a wide range.

This result is inevitably a phenomenon because the wavelength region of the irradiation of the ultraviolet beam required for the alignment of the liquid crystal 17 and the wavelength region necessary for curing the encapsulant 18 overlap each other.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of encapsulating a liquid crystal inlet of a liquid crystal panel without the influence of ultraviolet rays used in the liquid crystal panel encapsulation process.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of encapsulating a liquid crystal panel, comprising: arranging a plurality of liquid crystal panels having a liquid crystal injection hole; Filling an encapsulant into the liquid crystal inlet; Positioning a plurality of shielding means positioned above the plurality of liquid crystal panels, exposing the liquid crystal inlet, and shielding each of the plurality of liquid crystal panels; And projecting ultraviolet rays into the encapsulant filled in the liquid crystal injection hole.

The encapsulant is characterized in that the polymer material.

The cross-section of the plurality of shielding means for shielding each of the plurality of liquid crystal panel is characterized in that the inverted triangle or trapezoidal shape.

The plurality of shielding means is connected by a frame, characterized in that integrated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for encapsulating a liquid crystal panel, the apparatus including: a cassette in which a plurality of liquid crystal panels having liquid crystal injection holes are disposed; A plurality of shielding means for shielding each of said plurality of liquid crystal panels on top of said cassette; A frame for fixing the plurality of shielding means to the cassette; And ultraviolet ray projection means for projecting ultraviolet rays to the encapsulant filled in the liquid crystal injection hole.

The cross section of the shielding means is characterized in that one of the square, inverted triangle, trapezoidal shape.

The frame has a rectangular shape, characterized in that for fixing both ends of the plurality of shielding means.

The spaced apart distances of the plurality of shielding means may be the same as the respective thicknesses of the plurality of liquid crystal panels.
The plurality of shielding means is made of plastic, the frame is characterized in that using aluminum.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In order to configure the lower substrate and the upper substrate as a single liquid crystal panel as described above, 1) a process of applying a seal (hereinafter, referred to as an "adhesive" material), 2) a process of arranging spacers, and 3) It is common to go through the assembly process of joining two substrates up and down, 3) process of injecting liquid crystal, 4) encapsulation of liquid crystal inlet.

In this case, the process of applying the adhesive is a process for bonding the upper substrate and the lower substrate to prevent leakage of the liquid crystal to the outside in the later liquid crystal injection process, such as epoxy around the edge of the lower substrate The method which prints resin hardened | cured by heat or an ultraviolet-ray by the predetermined method is used.

At this time, the adhesive is printed except for the inlet of the liquid crystal for the process of injecting the liquid crystal later.

Next, the process of arranging the spacers is a process necessary to uniformly maintain the gap between the upper substrate and the lower substrate combined by the adhesive, and a plastic ball or silica sphere having a constant diameter is formed on the front surface of the lower substrate. This is done in a manner that is evenly distributed.

Prior to the liquid crystal encapsulation process, a process of bonding the lower substrate and the upper substrate on which the adhesive is printed on the periphery of the substrate is performed.

At this time, the adhesive is cured by applying a predetermined pressure and heat or ultraviolet rays.

Next, the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal inlet, which is a portion without the adhesive, of the liquid crystal panel to which the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded.

Next, a process of encapsulating the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal panel is injected.

At this time, unnecessary liquid crystal is buried around the injection hole of the liquid crystal panel filled with liquid crystal. Therefore, in order to seal the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal panel, a process of removing the liquid crystal buried around the liquid crystal inlet is necessary.

Next, after the liquid crystal around the liquid crystal injection hole is removed, the process of encapsulating the liquid crystal injection hole is performed.

The present invention is located between a plurality of liquid crystal panels fixed to the cassette (3 in FIG. 1), and after the shielding means for preventing the liquid crystal panel around the liquid crystal inlet from ultraviolet rays, the sealing process is performed.

4 is a perspective view briefly showing the configuration of the shielding means 113 positioned between the liquid crystal panel 111 and the liquid crystal panel for the sealing process of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, between a plurality of liquid crystal panels 111 fixed at predetermined intervals, the ultraviolet rays between the liquid crystal panel 111 and the liquid crystal panel 111 as a method for shielding the periphery of the liquid crystal inlet from ultraviolet rays. Shielding means for installing the shield 113 was installed.

The shielding means for shielding the ultraviolet light is referred to as an ultraviolet shade bar for convenience, and will be described below.

In this embodiment, a plurality of ultraviolet shielding bars are fixed to one frame and configured to be applied to a plurality of panels at the same time.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the shielding bar will be described with reference to the plan view of FIG. 5.

As shown in the figure, the plurality of shielding bars 123 are spaced apart from each other with a predetermined gap in the horizontal direction of the frame 127 in a rectangular shape and fixed to the frame 127 by a predetermined means.

The material forming the shielding bar 123 may preferentially recommend a flexible plastic material, and may be formed of another material having similar characteristics.

In addition, the frame 127 is made of a light material, preferably an aluminum material.

At this time, the size of the frame is made to substantially coincide with the rectangular shape on the upper cassette 3 of FIG.

At this time, the frame 127 includes a fixing portion (A) (B) to be fixed to the first, second circular column (5) fixed to the upper portion of the cassette (3 in Figure 1).

6 is a side view of the frame 127 in which the shield bar 123 is configured.

As shown, a plurality of shielding bars 123 are fixed to the frame 127 with a predetermined gap, and this gap is a portion into which the upper side of the liquid crystal panel erected vertically with the liquid crystal injection hole upward.

Referring to the enlarged view of FIG. 7, a plurality of liquid crystal panels 111 are fitted between the shielding bar 123 and the shielding bar fixed to the frame 127, respectively, and are exposed to the upper portion of the frame. The liquid crystal panel portion is only one side of the liquid crystal panel in which the liquid crystal inlet is formed.

Therefore, the lower portion of the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal panel is covered by the shielding bar 123.

At this time, the side of the shield bar 123 may be an inverted triangle shape, trapezoidal shape or rectangular shape.

Furthermore, in the case of a shielding bar having a wedge-shaped or inverted triangular side, when the frame 127 on which the shielding bar 123 is fixed is mounted on the cassette (5 in FIG. 1) in which a plurality of liquid crystal panels are mounted, While the upper side of the liquid crystal panel 111 in which the liquid crystal injection hole is positioned between the shielding bars 123 is inserted, the inclined surface 123a of the shielding bar 123 and the upper edge of the liquid crystal panel 111 ( Even if 111a) comes into contact with each other, it is more effective to prevent scratches by slipping on the inclined surface 123a of the shielding bar.

In this case, the frame 127 is manufactured using a light material such as aluminum, and the shielding bar 123 uses a flexible material such as Teflon.

Such a frame includes a fixing part (A of FIG. 5) (B of FIG. 5) for mounting to a circular column 5 fixed to the cassette 3 of FIG. 1, with reference to an enlarged view of FIG. 8 below. Look at the configuration of the fixing portion.

In the present invention, a toggle clamp 135 is fixed to the frame 127 to fix the frame 127 of FIG. 5 to the circular column of the cassette 3 of FIG. 1. It was used as a means.

At this time, one side and the other side of the frame is formed of a recess pattern 133a, 133b recessed in a circular shape of a size that can be fastened to the circular column fixed to the upper cassette of FIG.

The toggle clamp 135 is composed of a handle 137 and a fixing chain 139, and when the handle 137 of the toggle clamp is raised or lowered up and down, the fixing chain 139 is also upper, While moving downward, it is fixed or detached from the circular column (5 of FIG. 1) of the cassette (3 of FIG. 1). By this operating characteristic, the frame 127 of FIG. 4 can be detached from the cassette.

 In general, the fixing means may be variously modified, and fixing means such as the toggle clamp may not be used depending on the method of fixing the frame to the cassette.

Here, the principle in which the frame having the fixing part as described above is mounted on the circular column of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 9A to 9B.

The toggle clamp 135 mounted on the frame 127 and the grooves 133a and 133b formed on both sides of the frame are means for being fixed to a circular column of the cassette. The first circular column 5a fixed to the cassette is inserted into a circular groove 133a formed by being vertically erected to one side of the frame 196.

Next, the second circular column 56 in the circular groove 133b formed by being horizontally rotated to the other side of the frame 127 by horizontally rotating the frame 127 fastened to the first circular column 5a and being vertically fixed. ).

Next, the frame 127 is fixed to the cassette (3 in FIG. 1) by fastening the fixing chain 139 of the toggle clamp 135 attached to the frame 127 to the second circular column 5b. do.

As described above, the frame (127 of FIG. 5) fixing the plurality of shielding bars (123 of FIG. 5) has a circular column 115 fixed to the upper portion of the cassette 113 as shown in FIG. 10. When attached in the direction as described above, the liquid crystal inlet is mounted toward the liquid crystal inlet of the plurality of liquid crystal panel 111, the encapsulant 118 is applied to the liquid crystal inlet, at this time, a predetermined distance from the mounted frame 127 One side of the liquid crystal panel including the liquid crystal inlet is exposed between the fixed shielding bars (not shown).

Therefore, only the liquid crystal injection hole portion of the liquid crystal panel is affected by ultraviolet rays by the shielding bar, and does not affect the liquid crystal located below the liquid crystal injection hole.

Therefore, the present invention by fixing the liquid crystal panel to the cassette for the sealing process of the liquid crystal panel and by placing a long shielding means in one direction between the liquid crystal panel and the panel,

Since the liquid crystal around the liquid crystal injection hole may be shielded from the ultraviolet rays projected during the encapsulation process, panel defects due to abnormalities in liquid crystal alignment due to the ultraviolet light during the encapsulation process may be prevented.

Claims (9)

Arranging a plurality of liquid crystal panels having a liquid crystal injection hole; Filling an encapsulant into the liquid crystal inlet; Positioning a plurality of shielding means positioned above the plurality of liquid crystal panels, exposing the liquid crystal inlet, and shielding each of the plurality of liquid crystal panels; Projecting ultraviolet rays into the encapsulant filled in the liquid crystal injection hole; Sealing method of the liquid crystal panel comprising a. delete The method of claim 1, And a cross section of the plurality of shielding means for shielding each of the plurality of liquid crystal panels has an inverted triangle or trapezoidal shape. The method of claim 1, And a plurality of shielding means are connected by a frame to integrate the liquid crystal panel. A cassette in which a plurality of liquid crystal panels having a liquid crystal injection hole are disposed; A plurality of shielding means for shielding each of said plurality of liquid crystal panels on top of said cassette; A frame for fixing the plurality of shielding means to the cassette; Ultraviolet ray projection means for projecting ultraviolet rays to the encapsulant filled in the liquid crystal injection hole; Encapsulation device of the liquid crystal panel comprising a. The method of claim 5, Cross-section of the shielding means is a sealing device of a liquid crystal panel of one of a rectangular, inverted triangle, trapezoidal shape. The method of claim 5, The frame has a rectangular shape encapsulation device of the liquid crystal panel for fixing both ends of the plurality of shielding means. The method of claim 5, An encapsulation device of a liquid crystal panel, wherein the spaced apart distances of the plurality of shielding means are equal to the respective thicknesses of the plurality of liquid crystal panels. The method of claim 5, The plurality of shielding means using a plastic, the frame is an encapsulation device of a liquid crystal panel using aluminum.

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