KR20030076081A - A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus having balance for measuring rest of liquid crystal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:An apparatus for dispensing liquid crystal with a balance for measuring a residual amount of the liquid crystal is provided to efficiently use liquid crystal and prevent waste of expensive liquid crystal by measuring the weight of residual amount of the liquid crystal. CONSTITUTION:An apparatus(120) for dispensing liquid crystal is inserted into a ring type fixing unit(152) attached to a driving apparatus(150). A balance(127) is mounted at a lower surface of an upper cap(125) of a liquid crystal container, so that the balance is placed between the upper cap and the fixing unit. All the weight of the apparatus for dispensing liquid crystal is applied to only the balance to measure the weight of the apparatus for dispensing liquid crystal.

Description

A liquid crystal dropping device equipped with a balance for measuring the remaining amount of liquid crystal {A LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPENSING APPARATUS HAVING BALANCE FOR MEASURING REST OF LIQUID CRYSTAL}

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal dropping device, and in particular, by measuring the weight of the liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container by a balance and grasping the remaining amount of the liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container when the liquid crystal dropping can improve the dropping efficiency of the expensive liquid crystal The present invention relates to a liquid crystal dropping device.

Recently, with the development of various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and notebook computers, there is a growing demand for flat panel display devices for light and thin applications. Such flat panel displays are being actively researched, such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), FED (Field Emission Display), VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), but mass production technology, ease of driving means, Liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) are in the spotlight for reasons of implementation.

LCD is a device for displaying information on the screen using the refractive anisotropy of the liquid crystal. As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD 1 is composed of a lower substrate 5 and an upper substrate 3 and a liquid crystal layer 7 formed between the lower substrate 5 and the upper substrate 3. The lower substrate 5 is a drive element array substrate. Although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of pixels are formed on the lower substrate 5, and a driving element such as a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) is formed in each pixel. 3) is a color filter (hereinafter referred to as CF) substrate, and a color filter layer for realizing color is formed. In addition, a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed on the lower substrate 5 and the upper substrate 3, respectively, and an alignment film for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 7 is coated.

The lower substrate 5 and the upper substrate 3 are bonded by a sealing material 9, and a liquid crystal layer 7 is formed therebetween, and is driven by a driving element formed on the lower substrate 5. Information is displayed by controlling the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer by driving the liquid crystal molecules.

The manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device can be largely divided into a driving element array substrate process of forming a driving element on the lower substrate 5, a color filter substrate process of forming a color filter on the upper substrate 3, and a cell process. However, the process of the liquid crystal display will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

First, a plurality of gate lines and data lines arranged on the lower substrate 5 to define a pixel region are formed by a driving element array process, and the gate line and the data are formed in each of the pixel regions. A thin film transistor which is a driving element connected to the line is formed (S101). In addition, the pixel electrode is connected to the thin film transistor through the driving element array process to drive the liquid crystal layer as a signal is applied through the thin film transistor.

In addition, the upper substrate 3 is formed with a color filter layer and a common electrode of R, G, B to implement the color by the color filter process (S104).

Subsequently, an alignment layer is applied to the upper substrate 3 and the lower substrate 5, respectively, and then the alignment control force or surface fixing force (ie, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer formed between the upper substrate 3 and the lower substrate 5). In order to provide a pretilt angle and an orientation direction, the alignment layer is rubbed (S102 and S105). Subsequently, a spacer is disposed on the lower substrate 5 to maintain a constant cell gap, and a sealing material 9 is applied to an outer portion of the upper substrate 3, and then the lower substrate 5 is disposed. And the upper substrate 3 by applying pressure (S103, S106, S107).

On the other hand, the lower substrate 5 and the upper substrate 3 is made of a large area glass substrate. In other words, a plurality of panel regions are formed on a large area glass substrate, and a TFT and a color filter layer, which are driving elements, are formed in each of the panel regions. Must be processed (S108). Thereafter, the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal panel processed as described above through the liquid crystal inlet, and the liquid crystal inlet is encapsulated to form a liquid crystal layer. .

The liquid crystal is injected through the liquid crystal inlet formed in the panel. At this time, the injection of the liquid crystal is made by the pressure difference. 3 shows an apparatus for injecting liquid crystal into the liquid crystal panel. As shown in FIG. 3, a container 12 filled with liquid crystal is provided in a vacuum chamber 10, and a liquid crystal panel 1 is positioned on an upper portion thereof. The vacuum chamber 10 is connected to a vacuum pump to maintain a set vacuum state. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, an apparatus for moving the liquid crystal panel is installed in the vacuum chamber 10 to move the liquid crystal panel 1 from the upper part of the container 12 to the container, and thus the injection hole 16 formed in the liquid crystal panel 1. ) Is brought into contact with the liquid crystal 14 (this method is referred to as a liquid crystal dipping injection method).

As described above, when nitrogen (N ₂ ) gas is supplied into the vacuum chamber 10 while the injection port 16 of the liquid crystal panel 1 is in contact with the liquid crystal 14, the vacuum degree of the chamber 10 is reduced. The liquid crystal 14 is injected into the panel 1 through the injection hole 16 by the pressure difference between the pressure inside the liquid crystal panel 1 and the vacuum chamber 10 and the liquid crystal is completely filled in the panel 1. The liquid crystal layer is formed by sealing the injection hole 16 with a sealing material (this method is called vacuum injection of liquid crystal).

However, the method of forming the liquid crystal layer by injecting liquid crystal through the injection hole 16 of the liquid crystal panel 1 in the vacuum chamber 10 as described above has the following problems.

First, the liquid crystal injection time to the panel 1 is long. In general, the distance between the driving element array substrate and the color filter substrate of the liquid crystal panel is very narrow, such as several μm, so that only a very small amount of liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal panel per unit time. For example, when manufacturing a liquid crystal panel of about 15 inches takes about 8 hours to completely inject the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal panel manufacturing process is lengthened by the long-term liquid crystal injection, the manufacturing efficiency is lowered.

Second, the liquid crystal consumption rate is high in the liquid crystal injection method as described above. Of the liquid crystals 14 filled in the container 12, the amount injected into the liquid crystal panel 1 is a very small amount. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal is exposed to the atmosphere or a specific gas, the liquid crystal not only deteriorates by reacting with the gas but also by impurities introduced in contact with the liquid crystal panel 1. Therefore, even when the liquid crystal 14 filled in the container 12 is injected into the plurality of liquid crystal panels 1, the liquid crystal 14 remaining after the injection must be discarded. (1) It leads to an increase in manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid crystal dropping apparatus and a method for dropping liquid crystal directly onto a large area substrate including at least one liquid crystal panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal dropping apparatus which can always grasp the liquid crystal remaining amount in the liquid crystal container when the liquid crystal is dripping by measuring the weight of the remaining liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container.

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to the present invention has an upper cap is formed, the liquid crystal filling means for applying pressure to the liquid crystal is filled with the liquid is supplied to the upper and the upper cap, Weighing means for measuring the weight of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal filling means, a needle sheet is formed in the lower portion of the liquid crystal filling means and the discharge hole for discharging the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal filling means, and inserted into the liquid crystal filling means so as to move up and down, The first spring is installed at one end and the other end is in contact with the discharge hole of the needle sheet and moves up and down, the discharge hole of the needle sheet is opened and closed, and the magnetic force is generated as the power is applied to the upper portion of the needle Solenoid coil and magnetic rod to move the needle to the upper, and the liquid crystal filling is mounted on the lower portion of the liquid crystal filling means The liquid crystal of the stage is at least composed of a nozzle for dropping on a substrate comprising a single panel.

The liquid crystal dropping device is inserted into and fixed from an upper portion to a ring-shaped fixing means connected to a driving device, and a weight measuring means is positioned between the upper surface of the fixing means and the lower surface of the upper cap so that the load of the liquid crystal dropping means is applied to the weighing means. By measuring the weight of the liquid crystal remaining amount.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a general liquid crystal display device.

2 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.

3 is a view showing liquid crystal injection of a conventional liquid crystal display device.

4 is a view showing a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the liquid crystal dropping method according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by the liquid crystal dropping method.

6 is a view showing a basic concept of the liquid crystal dropping method.

Figure 7 is a view showing the structure of the liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 7 (a) is a view of the liquid crystal dropping and Figure 7 (b) is a view of the liquid crystal dropping.

8 is a view showing a state in which the liquid crystal dropping device is fixed to the driving means.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

101: liquid crystal panel 103, 105: substrate

107: liquid crystal 120: liquid crystal dropping device

122: case 124: liquid crystal container

125: upper cap 127: balance

128: spring 130: solenoid coil

132: magnetic rod 134: gap adjustment unit

136: Needle 143: Needle Sheet

146: outlet 150: drive device

152: fixed part

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional liquid crystal injection method such as the liquid crystal dipping method or the liquid crystal vacuum injection method, a method proposed in recent years is a liquid crystal layer forming method by the liquid crystal dropping method. The liquid crystal dropping method does not inject the liquid crystal by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the panel, but directly drops and dispenses the liquid crystal onto the substrate, and uniformly spreads the liquid crystal dropped by the bonding pressure of the panel. The liquid crystal layer is formed by distribution. Since the liquid crystal dropping method directly drops the liquid crystal onto the substrate for a short time, the liquid crystal layer formation of the large area liquid crystal display device can be performed very quickly, and only the required amount of liquid crystal is directly dropped onto the substrate. Since it is possible to minimize the consumption of the liquid crystal display device has the advantage that can significantly reduce the manufacturing cost.

4 is a view showing a basic concept of the liquid crystal dropping method. As shown in the drawing, in the liquid crystal dropping method, before the lower substrate 105 and the upper substrate 103 on which the driving element and the color filter are formed, respectively, the liquid crystal 107 is dropped onto the lower substrate 105. Dropping The liquid crystal 107 may be dropped on the substrate 103 on which the color filter is formed. In other words, the substrate to be the liquid crystal dropping method in the liquid crystal dropping method can be either a TFT substrate or a CF substrate. However, when the substrates are bonded, the substrate on which the liquid crystal is dropped must be placed at the bottom.

In this case, a sealing material 109 is applied to the outer region of the upper substrate 103 to apply pressure to the upper substrate 103 and the lower substrate 105 so that the upper substrate 103 and the lower substrate 105 are bonded together. At the same time, droplets of the liquid crystal 107 are spread out by the pressure to form a liquid crystal layer having a uniform thickness between the upper substrate 103 and the lower substrate 105. In other words, the biggest feature of the liquid crystal dropping method is that the liquid crystal 107 is previously dropped on the lower substrate before the panel 101 is bonded, and then the panel is bonded by the sealing material 109.

The liquid crystal display device manufacturing method to which the above liquid crystal dropping method is applied is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in the figure, TFT and color filter layers, which are driving elements, are formed on the lower substrate 105 and the upper substrate 103 through the TFT array process and the color filter process (S201 and S202). The TFT array process and the color filter process are the same as those of the conventional manufacturing method shown in FIG. 2 and are collectively performed on a large-area glass substrate on which a plurality of panel regions are formed. In particular, since the liquid crystal dropping method is applied in the manufacturing method, it can be usefully used in a larger glass substrate, for example, a large area glass substrate having an area of 1000 × 1200 mm ² or more, compared with the conventional manufacturing method.

Subsequently, after the alignment film is applied to the lower substrate 105 on which the TFT is formed and the upper substrate 103 on which the color filter layer is formed, rubbing is performed (S202 and S205), the liquid crystal panel region of the lower substrate 105 is formed. 107 is dropped and a sealing material 109 is applied to the liquid crystal panel outer region of the upper substrate (S203, S206).

Thereafter, pressure is applied while the upper substrate 103 and the lower substrate 105 are aligned, and the upper substrate 105 and the lower substrate 103 are bonded together by a sealing material 109 and at the same time the application of pressure is applied. The liquid crystal 107 dropped by this is spread evenly over the whole panel (S207). Through this process, a plurality of liquid crystal panels having a liquid crystal layer are formed on glass substrates (lower substrates and upper substrates) having a large area. By inspecting, a liquid crystal display device is produced (S208, S209).

Comparing the difference between the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device to which the liquid crystal drop method shown in FIG. 5 is applied and the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device to which the conventional liquid crystal injection method shown in FIG. 2 is applied, the difference between the vacuum injection and the liquid crystal drop of the liquid crystal and In addition to the difference in the processing time of the large-area glass substrate it can be seen that there are other differences. That is, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device to which the liquid crystal injection method shown in FIG. 2 is applied, the injection hole must be sealed by an encapsulant after the liquid crystal is injected through the injection hole. This eliminates the need for sealing of these inlets. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, in the manufacturing method to which the liquid crystal injection method is applied, since the substrate contacts the liquid crystal when the liquid crystal is injected, the outer surface of the panel is contaminated by the liquid crystal. In the manufacturing method in which the liquid crystal dropping method is applied, since the liquid crystal is directly dropped on the substrate, the panel is not contaminated by the liquid crystal, and as a result, the cleaning process is unnecessary. As described above, the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device by the liquid crystal dropping method is made of a simple process by the manufacturing method by the liquid crystal injection method, so that not only the manufacturing efficiency can be improved but also the yield can be improved.

In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal dropping method is introduced as described above, the most important factors for accurately forming the liquid crystal layer to a desired thickness are the position of the liquid crystal to be dropped and the amount of liquid crystal dropping. In particular, since the thickness of the liquid crystal layer has a close relationship with the cell gap of the liquid crystal panel, the accurate dropping position and the dropping amount of the liquid crystal are very important factors for preventing defects of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, there is a need for a device for dropping the correct amount of liquid crystal at the correct position, the present invention provides such a liquid crystal dropping device.

6 is a view showing the basic concept of dropping the liquid crystal 107 on the substrate (large area glass substrate) 105 using the liquid crystal dropping apparatus 120 according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is provided above the substrate 105. Although not shown in the drawing, the liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal dropping device 120 to fill a predetermined amount on the substrate.

Typically, the liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate in the form of droplets. Since the substrate 105 moves at a set speed in the x and y directions, and the liquid crystal dropping device discharges the liquid crystal at a set time interval, the liquid crystal 107 dropped on the substrate 105 at regular intervals in the x and y directions. Is placed. Of course, the liquid crystal dropping substrate 105 may be fixed and the liquid crystal dropping apparatus 120 may move in the x and y directions to drop the liquid crystal at a predetermined interval. However, in this case, since the droplet-shaped liquid crystals are shaken by the movement of the liquid crystal dropping device 120, an error may occur in the dropping position and the dropping amount of the liquid crystal. Therefore, the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is fixed and the substrate 105 is moved. It is desirable to.

7 is a view showing a liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 7 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal dropping and Figure 7 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal dropping.

As shown in the figure, in the liquid crystal dropping device 120, a cylindrical liquid crystal container 124 is accommodated in the case 122. The liquid crystal container 124 is made of polyethylene and the liquid crystal 107 is filled therein, and the case 122 is made of stainless steel so that the liquid crystal container 124 is formed therein. It is stored. In general, polyethylene is mainly used as the liquid crystal container 124 because it is easy to form a container having a desired shape because of its excellent moldability and does not react with the liquid crystal when the liquid crystal 107 is filled. However, since the polyethylene is weak in strength, it is easy to be deformed by a weak external shock. In particular, when polyethylene is used as the liquid crystal container 124, the container 124 may be deformed to drop the liquid crystal 107 in the correct position. Since it is not present, the case 122 is made of stainless steel having high strength. Although not shown in the drawing, a gas supply pipe connected to an external gas supply unit is formed at an upper portion of the liquid crystal container 124. A gas such as nitrogen is supplied from an external gas supply unit through the gas supply pipe to fill a region in which the liquid crystal is not filled in the liquid crystal container 124 so that pressure is applied to the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal is dropped.

The liquid crystal container 124 may be formed of a metal such as stainless steel. In this case, since the liquid crystal container 124 is not deformed by an external impact, the outer case 122 is not necessary. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 can be reduced. As such, when the liquid crystal container 124 is formed of metal, it is preferable to apply a fluorine resin film therein to prevent the filled liquid crystal 107 from causing a chemical reaction with the metal.

The upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 124 is equipped with a scale 127. The upper cap 125 serves to fix the upper case 126 of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 to the liquid crystal container 124 as well as the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is driven by a driving means (not shown). It serves to fix to the drive means when driven. At least one scale 127 is installed on the lower surface of the upper cap 125 to measure the weight of the liquid crystal container 124. Substantially, the scale 127 is to measure the weight of the liquid crystal 107 in the liquid crystal container 127. Accordingly, the scale 127 is zero-adjusted by the weight of the liquid crystal container 124 not filled with the liquid crystal 107, and converted to display the weight of the measured liquid crystal 107 in volume.

An opening (not shown) is formed at the lower end of the case 122. When the liquid crystal container 124 is accommodated in the case 122, a protrusion (not shown) formed at a lower end of the liquid crystal container 124 is inserted into the opening to couple the liquid crystal container 124 to the case 122. Be sure to In addition, the protrusion is coupled to the first coupling portion 141. Although not shown in the drawing, a nut is formed on the protrusion and a bolt is formed on one side of the first coupling portion 141. By the protrusion and the first coupling portion 141 is fastened.

A nut is formed at the other end of the first coupling part 141, and a bolt is formed at one end of the second coupling part 142 to fasten the first coupling part 141 and the second coupling part 142. . In this case, a needle sheet 143 is positioned between the first coupling part 141 and the second coupling part 142. The needle seat 143 is inserted into the nut of the first coupling part 141 and the first coupling part 141 and the second coupling part 142 when the bolt of the second coupling part 142 is inserted and fastened. Are coupled between. A discharge hole (not shown) is formed in the needle sheet 143 so that the liquid crystal 107 filled in the liquid crystal container 124 is discharged through the discharge hole through the second coupling part 142.

In addition, a nozzle is coupled to the second coupling part 142. The nozzle is for dropping a small amount of the liquid crystal 107 filled in the liquid crystal container 124, the bolt is coupled to the nut of one end of the second coupling portion 142 to couple the nozzle to the second coupling portion 142. It comprises a support portion 147 and a discharge port 146 protruding from the support portion 147 to drop a small amount of liquid crystal on the substrate in a drop shape.

A discharge pipe extending from the discharge hole of the needle sheet 143 is formed in the support part 147, and the discharge pipe is connected to the discharge hole 146. Typically, the outlet 146 of the nozzle has a very small diameter (to adjust the fine liquid crystal dropping amount) and protrudes from the support 147.

The needle 136 is inserted into the liquid crystal container 124 so that one end thereof contacts the needle sheet 143. In particular, since the end of the needle 136 in contact with the needle sheet 143 has a conical shape, the end is inserted into the discharge hole of the needle sheet 143 to block the discharge hole.

In addition, a spring 128 is mounted at the other end of the needle 136 positioned in the upper case 126 of the liquid crystal dropping device 120, and a magnetic rod 132 having a gap adjusting unit 134 attached thereon. ) Is installed. The magnetic rod 132 is made of a ferromagnetic material or a soft magnetic material, the outside of the cylindrical solenoid coil 130 is installed. The solenoid coil 130 is connected to an external power supply and power is applied. As the power is applied, magnetic force is generated in the magnetic rod 132.

The needle 136 and the magnetic rod 132 are provided at regular intervals (x). When power is supplied to the solenoid coil 130 from the power supply unit to generate a magnetic force on the magnetic rod 132, the needle 136 contacts the magnetic rod 132 by the magnetic force, and the power supply is stopped. Is restored to its original position by the elasticity of the spring 128 installed at the end of the needle 136. The discharge hole formed in the needle sheet 143 is opened or closed by the vertical movement of the needle 136. The end of the needle 136 and the needle seat 143 is repeatedly contacted as power is supplied to the solenoid coil 130 and stopped. Due to such repeated contact, the end of the needle 136 and the needle seat 143 are exposed to a constant impact, so there is a possibility of breakage. Therefore, it is preferable that the end of the needle 136 and the needle sheet 143 is formed of a material resistant to impact, for example, cemented carbide, to prevent breakage due to impact.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), as the discharge hole of the needle sheet 143 is opened, the gas (ie, nitrogen gas) supplied to the liquid crystal container 124 pressurizes the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal 107 is released from the nozzle. It begins to be loaded. At this time, the amount of the liquid crystal 107 is dropped depends on the time that the discharge hole is opened and the pressure applied to the liquid crystal, the open time is the interval (x) of the needle 136 and the magnetic rod 132, the solenoid coil It is determined by the magnetic force of the magnetic rod 132 generated by the 130 and the tension of the spring 128 provided on the needle 136. The magnetic force of the magnetic rod 132 may be adjusted according to the number of windings of the solenoid coil 130 installed around the magnetic rod 132 or the size of the power applied to the solenoid coil 130, and the needle 136 and the magnetic rod ( The interval x of the 132 can be adjusted by the gap adjusting unit 134 provided at the end of the magnetic rod 132.

As the liquid crystal drop is started in the liquid crystal dropping device 120 configured as described above and the liquid crystal 107 is dropped on the substrate, the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal container 124 is reduced. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal dropper, the operator must always grasp the remaining amount of the liquid crystal 107 remaining in the liquid crystal container 124, the specific reason is as follows.

The liquid crystal container 124 of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is filled with a limited liquid crystal 107. Therefore, when dropping liquid crystal onto the substrate, after dropping the liquid crystal onto the set number of substrates, the liquid crystal container 124 must be filled with a new liquid crystal 107 again. However, the liquid crystal of the set dripping amount does not always drop on the board | substrate when dripping liquid crystal. A small change may occur in the amount of liquid crystal dropped by factors such as an external environment, and a large difference may occur in the total drop amount and the set total drop amount actually loaded on the substrate by the change of the minute drop amount. For example, when the actual amount of liquid crystal dropping is larger than the set dropping amount, the amount of liquid crystal smaller than the set amount is dropped on the last dropping substrate among the plurality of substrates on which the liquid crystal is dropped by one liquid crystal container 124. As such, when a liquid crystal of less than the set amount is dropped on a specific substrate, when the liquid crystal display device is manufactured, a problem occurs in the black luminance of the liquid crystal display device of the normally black mode and normally In the case of a white mode liquid crystal display, a problem occurs in white luminance.

On the contrary, when the actual liquid crystal drop amount is less than the set liquid crystal drop amount, all liquid crystals filled in one liquid crystal container 124 are dropped and an excessive amount of liquid crystal remains in the liquid crystal container 124. The remaining liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container 124 is exposed to the air when the new liquid crystal is filled, and reacts with the components (especially moisture) in the air to be contaminated. In particular, when the amount of the remaining liquid crystal is larger than the dropping amount dropping on one substrate, the remaining liquid crystal can be dropped on the substrate. Thus, the disposal of the liquid crystal as described above is an obstacle to reducing the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device. do.

Therefore, even when the drop amount of the liquid crystal is set, the operator should always check the remaining amount of the liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container 124 to prevent the expensive liquid crystal from being disposed of unnecessarily.

On the other hand, since the liquid crystal container 124 of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 mainly consists of an opaque material (stainless steel or polyethylene), it was impossible for an operator to visually check the remaining amount of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal container 124.

However, the present invention solves this problem by providing a scale 127 in the liquid crystal dropping device 120. The liquid crystal 107 dropped on the substrate has a specific value density. Therefore, by measuring the weight of the remaining liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container 107 it is possible to calculate the volume of the liquid crystal residual amount.

As described above in FIG. 7, the scale 127 employed in the present invention is zero-adjusted by the weight of the empty liquid crystal container 124 which is installed in the upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 124 and is not filled with liquid crystal.

When the liquid crystal 107 is dropped, the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is fixed to the driving device and driven. Of course, for precise dropping of the liquid crystal, it is preferable to move the substrate when the liquid crystal is dropped so that the liquid crystal dropping device is aligned with the dropping position. For example, when the dropping of one panel in the substrate is finished, the liquid crystal dropping device 120 It will be preferable to move to the loading position of the next loading panel.

8 (a) is a view showing the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is fixed to the driving device 150 and FIG. 8 (b) is a scale 127 installed in the upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 124 It is a figure which shows the mode which the weight of the liquid crystal residual quantity in this liquid crystal container 124 is measured.

As shown in the figure, the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is inserted from above into a ring-shaped fixing part 152 attached to the driving device 150. At this time, the diameter of the ring-shaped fixing part 152 is larger than the liquid crystal container 124 and made of a size substantially similar to the upper cap 125. Therefore, when the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is inserted from above into the fixing part 152, the lower surface of the upper cap 125 contacts the upper surface of the fixing part 152 to fix the liquid crystal dropping device 120.

On the other hand, at least one (preferably two or more) scales 127 are mounted on the lower surface of the upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 124, and thus, between the upper cap 124 and the fixing portion 152. The scale 127 is located. Substantially, the upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 125 is in contact only with the scale 127 and does not touch at all with the upper surface of the fixing part 152. Accordingly, all the loads of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 are applied only to the scale 127, and as a result, the weight of the liquid crystal dropping device 120 is measured by the scale 127.

As described above, since the scale 127 is zeroed by the weight of the empty liquid crystal dropping device 120, the weight indicated by the scale 127 is the weight of the remaining liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container 124. . In addition, although not shown in the drawing, a display device is connected to the scale 127 to inform the user of the weight of the remaining liquid crystal amount, and the user converts the measured weight into a volume to check the remaining amount of the liquid crystal 107. . In this case, the density of the liquid crystal 107 dropped into the display device may be input to display the weight of the liquid crystal 107 measured in terms of volume.

In the above description, although the measuring means for measuring the weight of the liquid crystal 107 is limited to the scale 127 mounted on the upper cap 125 of the liquid crystal container 124, this explains an example of the present invention. It is for the purpose of not limiting the present invention. For example, a liquid crystal dropping device employing various mechanical weighing means, electromagnetic weighing means, or optical weighing means may also be easily used by anyone who is engaged in the technical field to which the present invention belongs by using the concept of the present invention. As can be devised, such an application should be substantially within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, in the present invention, since the liquid crystal dropping device is provided with a weighing means for measuring the weight of the liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container, the remaining amount of liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal container in the loaded liquid crystal can always be grasped. As a result, efficient use of the liquid crystal becomes possible and it is possible to prevent expensive liquid crystals from being wasted. Moreover, the defect of the liquid crystal panel caused by the lack of the liquid crystal dropping amount can be effectively prevented.

Claims (10)

Liquid crystal dropping means for filling the liquid crystal and dropping the liquid crystal directly on the substrate; And Liquid crystal dropping device comprising a weight measuring means for measuring the weight of the remaining liquid crystal remaining in the liquid crystal dropping means. According to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal dropping means, Liquid crystal filling means is formed on the cap, the liquid crystal is filled and the gas is supplied to the upper pressure to apply pressure to the liquid crystal; And And a nozzle mounted on the lower portion of the liquid crystal filling means to drop the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal filling means onto a substrate including at least one panel. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the weighing means is at least one scale installed on a lower surface of the upper cap. The method of claim 1, Driving means for moving said liquid crystal dropping means; And And a fixing means connected to the driving means to fix the liquid crystal dropping means. 5. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fixing means has a ring shape so that the liquid crystal dropping means is inserted from above. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an upper surface of the fixing unit contacts the lower surface of the upper cap to fix the liquid crystal dropping unit. 7. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a scale is positioned between an upper surface of the fixing means and a lower surface of the upper cap so that a load of the liquid crystal dropping means is applied to the scale. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a display unit which displays the weight of the liquid crystal remaining amount measured in connection with the balance. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display unit displays the weight of the remaining amount of the liquid crystal remaining in volume. Liquid crystal filling means is formed in the upper cap, the liquid crystal is filled and the gas is supplied to the upper pressure to apply pressure to the liquid crystal; Weight measuring means formed on the upper cap for measuring the weight of the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal filling means; A needle sheet mounted below the liquid crystal filling unit and having a discharge hole through which liquid crystals of the liquid crystal filling unit are discharged; A needle inserted into the liquid crystal filling means so as to be movable up and down, and having a first spring installed at one end thereof, and a discharge hole of the needle sheet opened and closed as the other end contacts the discharge hole of the needle sheet and moves up and down; A solenoid coil and a magnetic rod mounted on an upper portion of the needle to generate a magnetic force to move the needle to an upper portion when power is applied; And And a nozzle mounted on the lower portion of the liquid crystal filling means and dropping the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal filling means onto a substrate including at least one panel.