KR20050032250A - The device for coating alignment layer on the glass for the liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for coating an alignment film is provided to prevent an air bubble in alignment liquid contained in an alignment liquid supply part by forcing the alignment liquid that flows out through a transmission pipe to flow along an internal wall of the alignment liquid supply part. An alignment liquid supply part(44) contains a proper amount of alignment liquid(58). One side of a transmission pipe(41) is inserted into internal space of the alignment liquid supply part in order to transmit the alignment liquid to the alignment liquid supply part. One side of the transmission pipe is close to an internal wall of the alignment liquid supply part so that the alignment liquid discharged from one side thereof can flow along the internal wall thereof.

Description

Alignment film coating device {The device for coating alignment layer on the glass for the liquid crystal display device}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to an alignment film coating apparatus capable of suppressing the generation of bubbles inside an alignment liquid supply pipe and preventing the liquid from being discharged.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms, and in recent years, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro luminescent displays (ELDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs) have been developed. Various flat panel display devices have been studied, and some of them are already used as display devices in various devices.

Among them, LCD is the most widely used as a substitute for CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) for the use of mobile image display device because of the excellent image quality, light weight, thinness, and low power consumption, and mobile type such as monitor of notebook computer. In addition, it is being developed in various ways, such as a television for receiving and displaying broadcast signals, and a monitor of a computer.

As described above, although various technical advances have been made in order for the liquid crystal display device to serve as a screen display device in various fields, the task of improving the image quality as the screen display device has many advantages and disadvantages.

Therefore, in order to use a liquid crystal display device in various parts as a general screen display device, the key to development is how much high definition images such as high definition, high brightness, and large area can be realized while maintaining the characteristics of light weight, thinness, and low power consumption. It can be said.

Such a liquid crystal display device may be classified into a liquid crystal display panel displaying an image and a driving unit for applying a driving signal to the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the liquid crystal display panel has a space and is bonded to the first and second substrates. And a liquid crystal layer injected between the first and second substrates.

The first substrate (TFT array substrate) may include a plurality of gate lines arranged in one direction at a predetermined interval, a plurality of data lines arranged at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the gate lines, and the respective gates. A plurality of thin film transistors which are switched by signals of the gate line and a plurality of pixel electrodes formed in a matrix form in each pixel region defined by crossing a line and a data line, transmit a signal of the data line to each pixel electrode. Formed.

The second substrate (color filter substrate) includes a black matrix layer for blocking light in portions other than the pixel region, R, G, and B color filter layers for expressing color colors, and a common electrode for implementing an image. Is formed.

The first and second substrates have a predetermined space by spacers and are bonded by a sealant to form a liquid crystal between the two substrates.

On the other hand, an alignment layer is formed on the facing surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively, and is rubbed to align the liquid crystal layer.

The alignment layer is a polymer material, and the alignment layer may be formed of a material such as polyamide, polyimide compound, polyvinyl alchol (PVA), polyamic acid, or the like. 604b), a photoreactive material such as polyvinyl cinnamate (PVC), poly siloxane cinnamate (PSCN), or cellulose cinnamate (CelCN) -based compound may be used.

In order to coat such an alignment film on a substrate, an alignment film coating apparatus capable of uniformly forming an alignment liquid as a raw material of the alignment film on a substrate is required.

The alignment layer coating apparatus may have various methods such as spin, spray, dip, print, and inkjet methods.

Hereinafter, the alignment film coating apparatus employing the inkjet method will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional alignment film coating device.

In the conventional alignment film coating apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a pressure tank 21 in which an alignment liquid 38, which is a raw material of the alignment film, is stored, receives an alignment liquid 38 from the pressure tank 21. An alignment liquid supply part 22 storing an appropriate amount of the alignment liquid 38; A plurality of heads 23 for receiving the alignment liquid 38 from the alignment liquid supply part 22 and discharging the alignment liquid 38 on the substrate 32 are included.

In addition, a lower portion of the head 23 is provided with a mounting portion 31 which can move in one direction, and the substrate 32 is seated and fixed to the mounting portion 31.

Here, a delivery pipe 11 is formed between the pressure tank 21 and the alignment liquid supply part 22 to transfer the alignment liquid 38 stored in the pressure tank 21 to the alignment liquid supply part 22. Between the alignment liquid supply part 22 and each head 23, a plurality of main supply pipes 12 for supplying the alignment liquid 38 stored in the alignment liquid supply part 22 to each head 23 are provided. Formed.

Here, the main supply pipe 12 is not directly connected to each head 23, but a plurality of sub supply pipes 13 branch from each of the main supply pipes 12, so that each of the sub supply pipes 13 It is connected to one side of the head 23.

Sub-discharge pipes 14 are respectively connected to the other side of each of the heads 23, and the sub-discharge pipes 14 extending from the heads 23 are connected to one main discharge pipe 15 to be combined. The main discharge pipe 15 is connected to the pressure tank 21.

On the other hand, the pressure tank 21 in the pressure tank so that the alignment liquid 38 stored in the pressure tank 21 can be delivered to the alignment liquid supply part 22 through the transfer pipe 11. A first pressure tube 16a is formed inside the 21 to transfer pressure, and the alignment liquid supply part 22 includes the alignment liquid 38 stored in the alignment liquid supply part 22. A second pressure pipe 16b for transmitting pressure is formed so as to be transmitted to each head 23 through the main supply pipe 12 and each sub supply pipe 13.

N2 gas is injected into the first and second pressure pipes 16a and 16b from the outside.

On the other hand, the main supply pipe 12, the sub supply pipe 13 and the sub discharge pipe 14 is formed with a valve (v) for controlling the flow of the alignment liquid 38.

Here, the head 23 and the alignment liquid supply part 22 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the head of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the alignment liquid supply unit of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head 23 includes a storage unit 36 in which an alignment liquid 38 supplied through the sub supply pipe 13 is temporarily stored; A concave-convex diaphragm 35 for applying pressure to the alignment liquid 38 stored in the storage 36; The pressure of the diaphragm 35 is composed of a plurality of holes 37 through which the alignment liquid 38 stored in the storage part 36 is discharged.

In addition, a cable 24 for applying a voltage and a frequency to the diaphragm 35 is formed on the head 23 so that the diaphragm 35 of the head 23 may vibrate.

The alignment liquid supply part 22 has a cylindrical columnar shape as shown in FIG. 3 and has a space therein.

The delivery pipe 11 and the supply pipe 12 which penetrate the upper part of the said alignment liquid supply part 22 and into which the predetermined part was inserted are formed in the said alignment liquid supply part 22. As shown in FIG.

Here, for convenience of description, only one supply pipe 12 is shown.

In addition, a first pressure tube 16a for injecting N2 gas into the alignment liquid supply part 22 is formed on an upper surface of the alignment liquid supply part 22.

Here, one side of the delivery pipe 11 inserted into the alignment liquid supply part 22 is bent at a predetermined angle toward the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part 22, so that the alignment liquid flowing along the delivery pipe 11 is present. 38 falls to the bottom of the alignment liquid 38 supply portion 22 at a lower speed.

Referring to the operation of the alignment film coating device configured as described above in detail.

First, the substrate 32 to which the alignment liquid 38 is to be applied is fixed to the seating portion 31.

Subsequently, when N2 gas enters the inside of the pressure tank 21 in which the alignment liquid 38 is stored through the first pressure tube 16a, the alignment liquid 38 is transferred to the delivery pipe 11 by the pressure of the N2 gas. ) Is delivered to the alignment liquid supply part 22.

An appropriate amount of the alignment liquid 38 is always stored in the alignment liquid supply part 22, and the alignment liquid 38 stored in the alignment liquid supply part 22 is supplied to the alignment liquid supply part through the second pressure tube 16b. By the pressure of the N 2 gas introduced into the inside of 22, the gas flows along the main supply pipes 12.

Here, if the plurality of main supply pipe 12 is the first main supply pipe, the second main supply pipe and the third main supply pipe from the left, except for any one main supply pipe to send the alignment liquid 38 By locking the valve v of the main supply lines, the alignment liquid 38 enters only one main supply line.

That is, if the alignment liquid 38 is to be sent to the first main supply pipe, the valve v of the remaining second and third main supply pipes may be closed, and only the valve v of the first main supply pipe may be opened.

This is to prevent the pressure of the N2 gas from being dispersed.

Then, the alignment liquid 38 flowing along the first main supply pipe encounters a plurality of sub supply pipes 13 branched from the first main supply pipe.

At this time, the valve v of the plurality of sub supply pipes 13 connected to the first main supply pipe is opened so that the alignment liquid 38 flows into each head 23 along the respective sub supply pipes 13. do.

Then, the alignment liquid 38 is stored in the storages 36 of the respective heads 23.

Thereafter, the valves v of the first and third main supply pipes are closed, and only the valves v of the second main supply pipe are opened to direct the alignment liquid 38 to the second main supply pipe, and then the first and second The valve v of the third main supply pipe is closed, and only the valve v of the third main supply pipe is opened to send the alignment liquid 38 to the third main supply pipe.

When the alignment liquid 38 is filled in each of the heads 23 in the above-described process, the alignment liquid 38 is applied onto the substrate 31 formed under each of the heads 23.

That is, when voltage and frequency are applied to the diaphragm 35 inside the head 23 through the cable 24, the diaphragm 35 vibrates and the storage unit 36 below the diaphragm 35. Pressure is applied to the alignment liquid 38 stored therein, which causes the alignment liquid 38 to be discharged onto the substrate 32 through the hole 37.

Here, the amount of the alignment liquid 38 is adjusted by the magnitude of the voltage, and the discharge period of the alignment liquid 38 is adjusted by the frequency.

As the seating part 31 on which the substrate 32 is mounted moves in one direction, an alignment liquid 38 is uniformly applied to the entire surface of the substrate 32.

Meanwhile, each of the sub discharge pipes 14 connected to the other side of the heads 23 may clean the inside of the transfer pipe 11, the main supply pipe 12, the sub supply pipe 13, and the inside of the head 23. It is a pipe through which the cleaning liquid used is discharged.

That is, the cleaning solution is filled into the pressure tank 21 instead of the alignment solution 38, and then the cleaning solution is delivered by supplying the alignment solution 38 as described above.

However, even if the cleaning liquid is filled in each of the heads 23, the voltage and frequency are not applied to the diaphragm 35.

This is because the cleaning liquid filled in the head 23 is transferred to the delivery pipe 11, the main supply pipe 12, the sub supply pipe 13, the storage 36 and the sub discharge pipe 14 of the head 23, and the main discharge pipe. To keep circulating along (15).

However, the conventional alignment film coating apparatus has the following problems.

In the conventional alignment film applying apparatus, the alignment liquid stored in the pressure tank falls to the bottom of the alignment liquid supply part through the delivery pipe.

At this time, since the alignment liquid falls directly on the bottom of the alignment liquid supply part, bubbles are generated in the alignment liquid.

Therefore, the alignment liquid and bubbles coexist in the alignment liquid supply part.

Since the bubbles move together along the movement path of the alignment liquid, the bubbles are eventually supplied to each head.

Then, when the alignment liquid is discharged through the hole to the head, the bubble blocks the hole to prevent the alignment liquid from coming out, and thus the area of the substrate corresponding to the hole blocked by the bubble. The alignment liquid is not formed in the pinhole, and thus pinholes are generated in the region.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, the delivery pipe is in close contact with the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply portion to allow the alignment liquid flowing along the cutting pipe flows through the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply portion, It is an object of the present invention to provide an alignment liquid coating device that can prevent bubbles from being generated in the alignment liquid filled in the alignment liquid supply part.

An alignment film coating apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a liquid crystal comprising a plurality of heads for discharging the alignment liquid on a substrate and an alignment liquid supply unit for supplying the alignment liquid to the plurality of heads An alignment film coating apparatus for a display device, comprising: an alignment liquid supply unit for storing an appropriate amount of alignment liquid; One side is inserted into the inner space of the alignment liquid supply part to deliver the alignment liquid to the alignment liquid supply part, and the one side is so that the alignment liquid discharged from the one end may flow through the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part. It characterized in that it comprises a delivery pipe formed to be close to the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply.

Here, one end of the delivery pipe is characterized in that it is bent a predetermined angle toward the inner wall.

The interval between one end of the delivery pipe and the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply portion is characterized in that 1mm to 3mm.

The other side of the delivery pipe is characterized in that it further comprises a pressure tank connected.

In order to deliver the alignment liquid stored in the alignment liquid supply to the plurality of heads one side is characterized in that it further comprises a main supply pipe inserted into the interior space of the alignment liquid supply.

It is connected to the other side of the main supply pipe is characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of sub-supply pipes for branching the alignment liquid of the main supply pipe to the head in a plurality of directions to deliver to each head.

A pressure pipe for applying pressure to the inside of the alignment liquid supply part in the inner space of the alignment liquid supply part is further formed.

N2 gas is injected into the pressure tube.

Hereinafter, an alignment film coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a perspective view of an alignment film applying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of part A of FIG. 4.

Here, since all components except the alignment liquid supply unit 44 are the same as in the related art, all components except the alignment liquid supply unit 44 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

An alignment film coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressure tank is stored the raw material of the alignment film; An alignment liquid supply unit 44 for receiving the alignment liquid 58 from the pressure tank and storing an appropriate amount of the alignment liquid 58; It is largely composed of a plurality of heads for receiving the passage liquid 58 from the alignment liquid supply part 44 and for uniformly discharging the alignment liquid 58 onto the substrate.

Here, the alignment liquid supply unit 44 will be described in detail as follows.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the alignment liquid supply part 44 has a cylindrical columnar shape, and a space for storing the alignment liquid 58 is formed therein.

In addition, a delivery pipe 41 is formed at an outside of the alignment liquid supply part 44 so that one side penetrates an upper surface of the alignment liquid supply part 44 and is inserted into a space inside the alignment liquid supply part 44. have.

One end of the delivery pipe 41 is bent at a predetermined interval toward the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part 44, and the one end is formed to be as close as possible to the inner wall.

Specifically, the distance d between the one end of the delivery tube and the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part 44 is large enough to allow the alignment liquid discharged from the one end of the delivery tube to flow through the inner wall.

Here, the distance d between one end of the delivery pipe 41 and the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part 44 is preferably maintained at about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

As described above, the alignment liquid delivered to the alignment liquid supply part 44 through the delivery pipe 41 does not fall directly to the bottom of the alignment liquid supply part 44 as in the prior art, but flows through the inner wall and falls to the bottom. It will not include.

In order to supply the alignment liquid 58 stored in the alignment liquid supply part 44 to each head, the one side is inserted into the internal space of the alignment liquid supply part 44 to the outside of the alignment liquid supply part 44. The main supply pipe 42 is formed.

On the other side of the main supply pipe 42, in order to branch and deliver the alignment liquid flowing along the main supply pipe 42 to a plurality of heads, sub supply pipes corresponding to the number of heads are formed, and each sub supply pipe is By being connected to one side of the head, the alignment liquid delivered to the main supply pipe 42 is supplied to each of the heads.

In addition, the upper surface of the alignment liquid supply unit 44, the inside of the alignment liquid supply unit 44 so that the alignment liquid 58 stored in the alignment liquid supply unit 44 can flow along the main supply pipe 42. A pressure tube 43 for transmitting pressure to the pressure is formed.

In general, N2 gas is injected into the pressure tube 43.

As described above, the alignment liquid 58 supplied to the head can be prevented from blocking the hole of the head by the air bubbles because the bubbles are removed.

Therefore, pinholes are not generated in the alignment liquid discharged from the head and formed on the substrate.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be evident to those who have knowledge of.

The alignment film coating apparatus according to the present invention described above has the following effects.

In the alignment film applying apparatus according to the present invention, the one end of the delivery pipe is formed on the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part so that the alignment liquid discharged from one end of the fraud delivery pipe can flow along the inner wall. Bubbles can be prevented from occurring in the liquid.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent hole clogging of the head caused by the bubble and no ejection of the alignment liquid.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional alignment film coating device

2 is a cross-sectional view of the head of FIG.

3 is a perspective view of the alignment liquid supply unit of FIG.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the alignment liquid supply unit of the alignment liquid applying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention

5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion A of FIG.

            * Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

41: delivery pipe 42: main supply pipe

43 pressure tube 44 alignment liquid supply unit

Claims (8)

An alignment film coating apparatus for a liquid crystal display device comprising a plurality of heads for discharging an alignment liquid on a substrate and an alignment liquid supply unit for supplying the alignment liquid to the plurality of heads. An alignment liquid supply unit for storing an appropriate amount of alignment liquid; One side is inserted into the inner space of the alignment liquid supply part to deliver the alignment liquid to the alignment liquid supply part, and the one side is so that the alignment liquid discharged from the one end may flow through the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part. And a transfer pipe formed to be close to the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply part. The method of claim 1, One end of the transfer pipe is bent at an angle toward the inner wall aligning film coating apparatus, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The interval between the one end of the transfer pipe and the inner wall of the alignment liquid supply unit is an alignment film coating device, characterized in that 1mm to 3mm. The method of claim 1, Alignment film coating apparatus further comprises a pressure tank connected to the other side of the delivery pipe. The method of claim 1, And a main supply pipe having one side inserted into an inner space of the alignment liquid supply part to transfer the alignment liquid stored in the alignment liquid supply part to the plurality of heads. The method of claim 5, wherein And a plurality of sub supply pipes connected to the other side of the main supply pipe to branch the alignment liquid of the main supply pipe to the head in a plurality of directions and to deliver the heads to the respective heads. The method of claim 1, And a pressure tube for applying pressure to the inside of the alignment liquid supply unit in the internal space of the alignment liquid supply unit. The method of claim 6, Alignment film coating device, characterized in that the injection of N2 gas into the pressure tube.