KR20110069244A - Apparatus for measuring lc weight and lc dispenser including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A liquid crystal weight measurement assembly and a liquid crystal dispenser including the same are provided to measure weight exactly regardless of the atomization degree of a liquid crystal dripping from a nozzle. CONSTITUTION: A liquid crystal weight measurement assembly comprises: a housing cup(11) housing a liquid crystal which is atomized and sprayed from a liquid crystal nozzle; a filter device(13) installed to the inside of the housing cup to keep the liquid crystal not to flow off to the outside of the housing cup, and made of a material having a micro hole to pass air and not to pass a liquid crystal; and a weight measurement device(15) measuring the weight of the liquid crystal housed in the housing cup.

Description

Apparatus for measuring LC weight and LC dispenser including the same}

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal weighing assembly of a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a method for effectively measuring the weight of a liquid crystal to be dispensed on a substrate by a liquid crystal dispenser of a liquid crystal display device during a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device. will be.

In general, a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes fabricating an array substrate by forming driving elements in a glass having a predetermined size, and manufacturing a color filter substrate by forming a color filter layer or the like on another glass. Then, a sealing material is applied to one of the array substrate and the color filter substrate in a pattern of a predetermined shape, the liquid crystal drops are dropped in a pattern in which dots are arranged in an inner region of the sealing material, and then the two substrates are bonded together. do. At this time, as the two substrates are bonded together, the patterned liquid crystal droplets form a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates.

Then, the mother glass, which bonds the two substrates together, is cut to manufacture unit liquid crystal panels constituting the liquid crystal display. An area constituting the unit liquid crystal panel in the substrate is called a unit panel area.

In the process of dropping the liquid crystal drop, the liquid crystal must be loaded so as to be dispensed at the correct weight in order to precisely adjust the gap between both substrates. That is, the gap between the substrates is adjusted by the weight of the liquid crystal dropped in the substrates. Therefore, in order to have a desired cell gap, a liquid crystal of the correct weight corresponding to the substrate gap of the target value must be dropped. For example, if the amount of liquid crystal dropped from the nozzle is 3 mg, and the amount of liquid crystal to be dispensed in the unit panel region is 99 mg, the nozzle is moved and the droplet is dropped 33 times in 33 places of the unit panel region. It is necessary to drop it.

A weight of about 1 mg to 5 mg is required for the liquid crystal to be dropped from the nozzle. Liquid crystals weighing less than 1 mg are bound at the nozzle end due to the high viscosity, and do not free fall from the nozzle tip.

However, the gap between the two substrates constituting the mother glass is very small in micrometers, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer filled between the two substrates is also very thin in micrometers.

Therefore, in the case of a general liquid crystal dispenser in which about 1 mg to 5 mg of liquid crystal is dropped from the nozzle N, a difference in thickness of the liquid crystal layer occurs between a region where the liquid crystal is actually dropped and a region where the dropped liquid crystal is reflowed. Since the thickness difference of the liquid crystal layer makes the path of light passing through the liquid crystal layer different, as a result, a stain occurs on the screen when the product is applied, resulting in a defect of the product.

In addition, the liquid crystal having a weight of 1 mg to 5 mg is not atomized in the dropping process, but is dropped into a drop mass, and the shape of the liquid crystal droplet is instantaneously deformed by the instantaneous impact when the dropped liquid crystal droplets collide with the substrate. When the shape of the liquid crystal droplets is momentarily deformed, small pieces of liquid crystal droplets fall off from the liquid crystal droplets and fall to a point other than the point where the liquid crystal droplets are dropped. Therefore, when the liquid crystal droplets fall to the point where the sealing material is bonded, there is a problem that the substrates are not well bonded during the mother glass bonding process. In addition, when the fragments of the liquid crystal drops out of the unit panel region, there is a problem that the total amount of the liquid crystal dropped in the unit panel region is smaller than the preset amount.

Accordingly, it is necessary to drop the unit weight at which the liquid crystal is dropped to 1 mg or less, in which the liquid crystal does not cause staining.

On the other hand, in the liquid crystal dropping apparatus, the weight of the liquid crystal dropped by the liquid crystal dispenser is measured using an electronic balance before dropping a liquid crystal to a board | substrate. The measuring cup is in an empty cup state before the liquid crystal is dropped. In the liquid crystal dropping device, the liquid crystal is dropped into the measuring cup. The measuring cup containing the liquid crystal is placed on the electronic balance. Accordingly, the electronic balance measures the amount of liquid crystal contained in the measuring cup and transmits it to the central controller. The central controller compares the preset amount of liquid crystal with the amount of liquid crystal dropped in the liquid crystal dropping device to verify properness. .

By the way, when the atomized liquid crystal is injected into a normal empty measuring cup, some of the liquid crystal is scattered while colliding with the surrounding air. Some of the scattered liquid crystals are out of the measuring cup.

 Therefore, when the liquid crystal contained in the measuring cup is measured, it is actually measured smaller than the amount of the liquid crystal falling on the substrate. For this reason, it controls so that the quantity more than the quantity of liquid crystal actually needed may be dripped. Accordingly, there is a problem that the liquid crystals are dispensed more than necessary, so that the liquid crystals are pushed out of the unit panel region so that the substrates do not adhere well during the mother glass bonding process.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention has been made in an effort to solve various problems including the above problems, and to provide a liquid crystal weighing apparatus capable of accurately measuring a weight regardless of the degree of atomization of liquid crystal dropped from a nozzle, and a liquid crystal dispenser including the same. It is done.

Therefore, the liquid crystal weighing apparatus of the present invention includes a receiving cup, a filter means, and a weighing means. The receiving cup accommodates the liquid crystal atomized and ejected from the liquid crystal nozzle. The filter means is installed inside the storage cup to prevent the liquid crystal contained in the storage cup from escaping out of the storage cup. The weight measuring means measures the weight of the liquid crystal contained in the receiving cup.

The filter means is preferably made of a material having fine pores so as not to pass the air and to pass the liquid crystal.

In addition, the filter means is formed to fill the inner space of the receiving cup, it is preferable that the recessed insertion space is formed so that the liquid crystal nozzle is inserted.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal dispenser includes a liquid crystal weighing assembly having the above structure, a liquid crystal nozzle in which a liquid crystal having a weight of less than 1 mg is injected, and a gas nozzle disposed to surround the liquid crystal nozzle and discharging gas. It includes; a liquid crystal injection device comprising a.

In this case, the present invention may further include a quantitative supply device for supplying the liquid crystal quantitatively to the liquid crystal nozzle to form a liquid crystal having a weight of less than 1 mg at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle. In this case, the gas nozzle may be disposed such that the liquid crystal formed by the gas discharged from the gas nozzle is formed at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle.

In addition, the liquid crystal nozzle may connect ultrasonic waves to atomize the liquid crystal passing through the liquid crystal suction port receiving a predetermined amount of liquid crystal, the liquid crystal injection port through which the liquid crystal supplied from the liquid crystal suction port is injected, and the liquid crystal suction port and the liquid crystal injection port. The liquid crystal connector includes a vibrating liquid crystal, and the gas discharged from the gas nozzle may function as an air curtain to prevent the atomized liquid crystal from escaping beyond a predetermined area.

According to the present invention, even when the liquid crystal is atomized to 1 mg or less, since the weight of the liquid crystal can be accurately measured, the amount of liquid crystal dispensed to the unit panel region of the substrate can be precisely controlled. Accordingly, product defects due to excessive or lack of liquid crystals do not occur.

In addition, the liquid crystal can be atomized by spraying less than 1mg, thereby preventing stains on the screen after completion of the product.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal weighing assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a liquid crystal spraying apparatus 100 for spraying a liquid crystal to be measured by the liquid crystal weight assembly. In this case, the liquid crystal injection apparatus 100 includes a liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 and a gas nozzle unit 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal weighing assembly 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving cup 11, a weighing means 15, and a filter means 13.

The receiving cup 11 accommodates the liquid crystal atomized and sprayed from the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. The receiving cup 11 may be a measuring cup.

The weighing means 15 measures the weight of the liquid crystal contained in the receiving cup 11. The weighing means 15 may be an electronic balance, and the receiving cup 11 may be placed on the electronic balance. Accordingly, after the weight of the liquid crystal and the weight of the storage cup 11 are measured on the electronic balance, the weight of the storage cup 11 is subtracted to measure the weight of the liquid crystal LC.

The filter means 13 is installed inside the storage cup 11 to prevent the liquid crystal LC stored in the storage cup 11 from escaping to the outside of the storage cup 11. In this case, the filter means 13 should not cause any chemical action or evaporate while meeting the liquid crystal. The filter means 13 may be a fiber membrane material, a silicone foam, a fiber mat, or the like.

On the other hand, the filter means 13 is formed to fill the inner space of the receiving cup 11, it is preferable that the concave portion 14 is formed so that the insertion space 12 is formed so that the liquid crystal nozzle 110 is inserted. Do. This is to prevent the liquid crystal (LC) having a weight of 1 mg or less from being scattered out of the storage cup 11. That is, the filter means 13 has a concave inner space to insert the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110, so that the small size liquid crystal meets the filter means 13.

Accordingly, accurate weight measurement is possible regardless of the size of the liquid crystal.

Meanwhile, the liquid crystal dispenser 1000 (see FIG. 4) including the liquid crystal weighing assembly 10 of the present invention further includes a liquid crystal spraying device 100. The liquid crystal ejection apparatus includes a liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 and a gas nozzle unit 120. Liquid crystal having a weight of less than 1 mg, more preferably 0.8 mg to 0.1 mg is injected into the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. The gas nozzle unit 120 is disposed to surround the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110, and gas is discharged through the gas nozzle unit 120.

The gas may function to drop 0.8 mg or less of liquid crystal formed at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. In this case, the liquid crystal dispenser may further include a metering supply device 130. The quantitative supply device 130 receives the liquid crystal from the liquid crystal tank 140, and supplies the liquid crystal to the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 to form a liquid crystal (LC) having a weight less than 1 mg at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. do. The metering supply device 130 may be a discharge pump. The metering supply device 130 may be controlled by the two fluid control unit.

In addition, the liquid crystal dispenser may include a gas control valve 150 to adjust the supply time and / or the gas supply amount of the gas supplied to the gas nozzle unit 120. The gas control valve 150 is interposed between the gas tank 160 and the gas nozzle unit 120.

In this case, the gas control valve 150 may be controlled by the two fluid control unit.

Hereinafter, an example of a method in which the two-fluid controller can drop the liquid crystal formed in the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the two-fluid controller controls the metering device 130 to supply the liquid crystal nozzle in a predetermined amount. Controlling the operation of the metering device 130 is a timing diagram of (a) of FIG.

For reference, the 'preset amount of liquid crystal' is an amount of liquid crystal in which the difference in thickness between the region where the liquid crystal is dropped and the region where the liquid crystal is reflowed is minimized, and according to an experiment, 0.1 mg to 0.8 mg is preferable.

If the quantitative supply device 130 supplies and drives the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 by a predetermined amount during the T1 time shown in FIG. 2A, the two-fluid controller controls the quantitative supply device 130. Stops the supply drive. At this time, the amount of liquid crystal supplied to the liquid crystal nozzle is not an amount enough to fall freely, so that the liquid crystal is not dropped onto the substrate and is formed in a drop shape at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110.

Meanwhile, the two-fluid controller controls the gas control valve 150 to supply gas to the gas nozzle for a T2 time after the T1 time shown in FIG. 2A. In this way, when gas is supplied to the gas nozzle unit 120 for a T2 time, the liquid crystal supplied to the end of the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 is finally dropped on the substrate by the gas pressure. After the T2 time has elapsed, the gas nozzle unit 120 and the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 move to the next dropping point, and again, the two-fluid control unit quantifies the liquid crystal in a predetermined amount for T3 hours so as to be formed at the end of the nozzle. The supply device 130 is supplied and driven, and gas is supplied for T 4 hours so that a small amount of liquid crystal formed at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 is finally dropped onto the substrate.

That is, the two-fluid control unit alternately supplies a predetermined amount of gas immediately after the liquid crystal is supplied to the nozzle and formed at the end of the nozzle (T1-T2, T3-T4, T5-T6). By controlling the metering supply device 130 and the gas control valve 150, respectively, a small amount of liquid crystal is sequentially dropped onto the substrate at a desired point. As a result, the difference in the thickness of the liquid crystal in the region in which the liquid crystal is dropped and the region in which the liquid crystal is reflowed is minimized, resulting in a lower probability of occurrence of spot unevenness due to the liquid crystal dropping.

As another method, as shown in FIG. 2B, in order to inject a liquid crystal of 0.8 mg or less, the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 has a predetermined amount (0.1 mg to 0.8 mg) of liquid crystal and gas, respectively. And the gas nozzle unit 120 may be repeatedly controlled to be supplied simultaneously (T1, T3, T5,...).

As another liquid crystal dropping control process, as shown in FIG. 2C, the two-fluid controller controls the gas supply to the gas nozzle unit 120 to be continuous (T1), while setting a predetermined amount during the time. As much as (0.1 mg to 0.8 mg), the liquid crystal supply may be controlled to be intermittently repeated (T2, T3, T4, ...).

As another liquid crystal dropping control process, as shown in FIG. 2D, the two-fluid controller controls the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 by a predetermined amount (0.1 mg to 0.8 mg) while continuing to supply the liquid crystal (T1). The gas supply may be intermittently and repeatedly controlled so that the liquid crystal of () is periodically dropped (T2, T3, T4).

As another liquid crystal drop control process, as shown in FIG. 2E, the two-fluid controller controls the liquid crystal supply to the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 (T1) by a predetermined amount (0.1 mg to 0.8). The gas may be supplied together so that the liquid crystal of mg) is dropped.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid crystal ejection apparatus 100 and the liquid crystal weighing apparatus 10 included in the liquid crystal dispenser having a mechanism for ejecting the liquid crystal by an amount less than 1 mg. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal nozzle unit 210 included in the liquid crystal injection apparatus 100 may include a liquid crystal suction hole 211, a liquid crystal injection hole 212, and a liquid crystal connection unit 213. . A certain amount of liquid crystal flows into the liquid crystal suction port 211. In the liquid crystal injection hole 212, the liquid crystal supplied from the liquid crystal suction port 211 is injected onto the substrate. The liquid crystal connector 213 connects the liquid crystal suction port 211 and the liquid crystal injection port 212 and vibrates ultrasonically to atomize the liquid crystal passing therethrough. In this case, the gas discharged from the gas nozzle unit 220 functions as an air curtain to prevent the atomized liquid crystal from escaping out of a predetermined area.

The liquid crystal connector 213 may vibrate by the piezoelectric element 231 and the power supply 232. The piezoelectric element 231 is an element that receives electrical energy and changes it into vibration energy. The power supply 232 functions to supply a voltage to the piezoelectric element 231. In this case, as the frequency of the power supplied to the piezoelectric element 231 through the power supply 232 increases, the liquid crystal connector 213 vibrates faster. It is preferable that the liquid crystal connector 213 vibrate at a frequency corresponding to ultrasonic waves (20 KHz or more).

Accordingly, the kinetic energy of the liquid crystal is increased by vibrating means, so that a liquid crystal of 0.1 mg to 0.8 mg, which is conventionally weighted at the tip of the nozzle, can be separated from the liquid crystal injection port 212. In this case, it is preferable that the liquid crystal injection port 212 is also vibrated by the vibration means.

The gas nozzle unit 220 includes a gas discharge port 222. The gas discharge port 222 is formed to surround the liquid crystal injection hole 212. Therefore, the gas is discharged along the periphery of the liquid crystal injected from the liquid crystal injection port 212 through the gas discharge port 222. In addition, the gas nozzle unit 220 may include a gas diffusion unit 223 so that the gas passing through the gas diffusion unit 223 may be ejected through the gas discharge port 222 in a uniform film shape. . On the other hand, the gas nozzle unit 220 may be connected to the gas tank 160 through the gas control valve 150.

The gas discharged from the gas nozzle unit 120 may perform an air curtain function. That is, the liquid crystal atomized by the vibration of the liquid crystal connector 213 is injected at a predetermined angle. However, due to the surrounding wind or more atomization than necessary, the phenomenon that the liquid crystal is scattered in an undesired direction may occur. In this case, the gas discharged from the gas nozzle unit 120 becomes a single film, and the liquid crystals injected from the liquid crystal injection holes 212 may be prevented from flying out of a predetermined area.

According to the present invention, the liquid crystal is atomized and sprayed to 0.8 mg or less. In addition, the filter unit 13 may measure the weight of all the atomized liquid crystal in the receiving cup (11).

4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a liquid crystal dispenser 1000 including the liquid crystal weighing assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal dispenser 1000 includes a frame 1100, a stage 1200, a liquid crystal injector 100, a column 1400, and a weighing assembly 10.

First, the substrate P on which the liquid crystal is dropped is placed on the stage 1200 installed on the frame 1100. Then, the liquid crystal spraying device 100 positioned on the stage 1200 moves according to a pre-input pattern. The liquid crystal injection device 100 includes a gas nozzle unit and a liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. Liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 constituting the liquid crystal spraying device 100.

Meanwhile, the liquid crystal injector 100 moves along the head support 1400 installed on the frame 1100. The column 1400 is formed in a bent shape, and both ends thereof are coupled to the frame 1100 so as to be movable in one direction. In this case, the column 1400 is positioned to cross the stage 1200. The stage 1200 moves in one direction on a fixed table 1500 installed on the frame 1100. The direction in which the stage 1200 moves is perpendicular to the column 1400.

The weight measuring assembly 10 may be disposed on one side of the stage 1200 or the frame 1100. Therefore, the stage 1200 or the column 1400 is moved so that the receiving cup 11 of the weighing assembly 10 is positioned below the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110. The liquid crystal spraying device moves the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110 at the correct height on the receiving cup 11 while raising and lowering the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110.

Thereafter, the liquid crystal is sprayed from the liquid crystal nozzle unit 110, and the receiving cup 11 contains the liquid crystal. The receiving cup 11 may measure the weight of the injected liquid crystal by measuring the weight by the weighing means 15.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, this is only an example, and those skilled in the art may realize various modifications and equivalent other embodiments therefrom. I can understand. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a liquid crystal weighing apparatus and a liquid crystal spraying apparatus for ejecting a liquid crystal to be measured by the liquid crystal weight measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time diagram illustrating a spray control mechanism in the liquid crystal spray apparatus of FIG. 1.

3 is a modification of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal dispenser including a liquid crystal weighing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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

10: liquid crystal weighing assembly 11: storage cup

13: filter means 15: weighing means

100: liquid crystal injector 110: liquid crystal nozzle

120: gas nozzle unit 130: metering device

211: liquid crystal suction port 212: liquid crystal injection port

213: liquid crystal connector 1000: liquid crystal dispenser

P: substrate LC: liquid crystal

Claims (6)

A storage cup for storing the liquid crystal atomized and sprayed from the liquid crystal nozzle; A filter means installed in the storage cup to prevent liquid crystal contained in the storage cup from escaping out of the storage cup; And And weighing means for measuring the weight of the liquid crystal contained in the receiving cup. The liquid crystal weighing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filter means is made of a material having fine pores so as to pass air and not to pass liquid crystal. The liquid crystal weighing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filter means is formed to fill an inner space of the receiving cup, and a concave insertion space is formed to insert the liquid crystal nozzle. A liquid crystal weighing assembly having the structure of any one of claims 1 to 3; And A liquid crystal spraying device including a liquid crystal nozzle spraying liquid crystals having a weight of less than 1 mg and a gas nozzle disposed around the liquid crystal nozzle and discharging gas; Liquid crystal dispenser comprising a. The method according to claim 4, Further comprising a fixed amount supply device for supplying the liquid crystal quantitatively to the liquid crystal nozzle to form a liquid crystal having a weight of less than 1 mg at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle, The gas nozzle is a liquid crystal dispenser, characterized in that the gas discharged from the gas nozzle is arranged so that the liquid crystal formed at the end of the liquid crystal nozzle is separated from the liquid crystal nozzle. The method according to claim 4, The liquid crystal nozzle connects the liquid crystal suction port for receiving a predetermined amount of liquid crystal, the liquid crystal injection port through which the liquid crystal supplied from the liquid crystal suction port is injected, and the liquid crystal suction port and the liquid crystal injection port to ultrasonically vibrate to atomize the liquid crystal passing therethrough. Including a liquid crystal connecting portion, And a gas discharged from the gas nozzle functions as an air curtain to prevent the atomized liquid crystal from escaping out of a predetermined area.

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