KR20150113797A - Method and apparatus for fabricating liquid crystal panel - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel which can increase productivity of a panel which is to be processed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus (1) for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel includes: a light emission unit (10) which emits light; an emission box (20) having a window material (21) which transmits light from the light emission unit (10); a stage (30) which includes an arrangement side (31), which faces the window material (21) to allow the panel (2) to be processed to be arranged thereon and enables liquid, capable of controlling the temperature of the arrangement side (31), to flow thereon; a chamber (40) which covers the emission box (20) and the stage (30); a circulation-type air conditioner (50) which discharges gas, entering from an inlet (51), to an outlet (52); and a heat keeping chamber (60) which has the temperature maintained to be same as the inside temperature of the chamber (40). In addition, the panel (2) to be processed can be moved between the heat keeping chamber (60) and the chamber (40).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel,

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel.

In the production of a liquid crystal panel, a light source such as an ultraviolet lamp is used for a panel to be treated having a photoreactive polymer, and a light source is irradiated with light having a predetermined wavelength, (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

It is desired that the temperature of the liquid crystal panel at the time of ultraviolet irradiation be uniform on the panel surface. Particularly, in a configuration in which the blue layer of the liquid crystal is stabilized with a polymer, that is, a configuration using a polymer stabilized blue phase (PSBP), variations in temperature on the panel surface during the light irradiation, There is a large influence on the unevenness of the display characteristics, so that the temperature uniformity is strongly desired.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-215463

However, in the ultraviolet irradiator disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is required to improve the productivity of the panel to be processed while making the temperature uniform.

An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal panel and a manufacturing method for a liquid crystal panel that can improve productivity of a panel to be processed.

An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment includes a light irradiation unit; Survey box; stage; A chamber; Circulation type air conditioner; And a warming chamber. The light irradiation unit emits light. The irradiation box has a window that transmits light from the light irradiation part. The stage is provided so as to face the window member and has a disposition surface on which the panel to be processed is disposed. The stage allows a liquid to be temperature-controlled to flow in a region irradiated with light on the placement surface inside. The chamber covers the irradiation box and the stage. The circulation type air conditioner has an inlet and an outlet provided in the chamber, and the gas introduced from the inlet is discharged from the outlet to control the temperature in the chamber. The holding chamber is maintained at a temperature equivalent to that in the chamber, and the target panel is movable between the holding chamber and the chamber.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel that can improve productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment;
2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a panel to be irradiated with light by a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.
3 is a view for explaining light transmitted through a window of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a window member of a manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to a modified example of the embodiment.
6 is a graph showing temperature changes of the panel to be treated of the comparative example and the inventive product.

The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment described below includes a light irradiation unit 10, a radiation box 20, a stage 30, a chamber 40, a circulation type air conditioning apparatus 50, (60). The light irradiation unit 10 emits light. The irradiation box 20 has a window member 21 through which light from the light irradiation unit 10 is transmitted. The stage 30 has a placement surface 31 which faces the window 21 and on which the target panel 2 is placed. The stage 30 allows the liquid to be temperature-controlled to flow in the region where the light of the placement surface 31 is irradiated inside. The chamber 40 covers the irradiation box 20 and the stage 30. The circulation type air conditioning apparatus 50 includes an inlet 51 and an outlet 52 provided in the chamber 40. The gas introduced from the inlet 51 is discharged from the outlet 52, Temperature is controlled. The holding chamber 60 is maintained at a temperature equivalent to that in the chamber 40 and the target panel 2 is movable between the holding chamber 60 and the chamber 40. [

The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment described below is characterized in that the window member 21 is made of a material that suppresses the transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength or suppresses transmission of both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays of predetermined wavelengths And has a function of suppressing transmission.

In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the panel to be processed 2 includes the color filter substrate 3, the counter substrate 4, and the liquid crystal layer 5. The counter substrate 4 is opposed to the color filter substrate 3. The liquid crystal layer 5 is provided between the color filter substrate 3 and the counter substrate 4. The target panel 2 is disposed on the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 side is in contact with the placement surface 31 and the light irradiation portion 10 is disposed on the side of the target panel 2 from the side of the opposite substrate 4. [ As shown in FIG.

In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the liquid crystal layer 5 includes at least a nematic liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition which develops a blue phase, and a polymerizable monomer. The liquid crystal layer 5 emits a polymer-stabilized blue phase upon irradiation of light.

The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment described below is characterized in that the light irradiating unit 10 has a main wavelength of 300 to 400 nm and an illuminance of light having a wavelength of 365 nm on the arrangement surface of 15 mW / Cm < 2 >.

In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, when the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated at the time of light irradiation is within ± 0.5 ° C. within a range of 10 ° C. to 70 ° C. The stage 30 and the circulation type air conditioner 50 are controlled.

In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment described below, the target panel 2 is disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 for circulating a liquid at a predetermined temperature inside to control the temperature . The panel to be treated 2 is accommodated in the irradiation box 20 having the window material 21 facing the placement surface 31 and irradiated with the light from the irradiation section 10. A chamber 40 provided with an introduction port 51 and an outlet port 52 is disposed so as to cover the stage 30 and the irradiation box 20. The target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 while allowing liquid at a predetermined temperature to flow through the stage 30 and introducing a medium at a constant temperature from the introduction port 51 into the chamber and circulating the same through the discharge port 52 ) Through the window member (21). The target panel 2 is positioned in the temperature chamber 60 maintained at a temperature equivalent to that in the chamber 40 before the target panel 2 is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30. [

[Embodiment Mode]

Next, a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a panel to be irradiated with light by a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment, 3 is a view for explaining light transmitted through a window of the apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the window structure of the apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment.

(Hereinafter simply referred to as a manufacturing apparatus) 1 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 irradiates light to a panel 2 to be treated while maintaining a constant temperature, For example, a polymer-stabilized blue phase constituting a liquid crystal display. As shown in Fig. 2, the panel 2 to be irradiated with light by the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a color filter substrate 3, an opposing substrate 4 opposed to the color filter substrate 3, And a liquid crystal layer 5 provided between the color filter substrate 3 and the counter substrate 4.

The color filter substrate 3 is, for example, a color filter that transmits red, green, and blue light, is disposed on a substrate and covered with a protective film. The counter substrate 4 is a substrate on which electrodes are arranged in an array. The liquid crystal layer 5 includes at least a nematic liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition which expresses a blue phase, and a polymerizable monomer. The liquid crystal layer 5 expresses a polymer-stabilized blue phase by irradiation of light by the manufacturing apparatus 1. [

The nematic liquid crystal composition constituting the liquid crystal layer 5 is composed of a material having dielectric anisotropy.

A liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase is a material that enables a higher response than a nematic liquid crystal composition by irradiating light while expanding the temperature range at which the liquid crystal composition can be stably present at room temperature, . The liquid crystal composition expressing the blue phase is a polymer-stabilized blue phase which is unevenly irradiated when light is irradiated, for example, in a state where the temperature is maintained within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to a predetermined set temperature between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. For example, when the set temperature is 55 ° C, the liquid crystal composition that exhibits a blue phase is a polymer-stabilized blue phase that is unevenly irradiated with light when the temperature is maintained within the range of 54.5 ° C to 55.5 ° C , And when the set temperature is 60 占 폚, the liquid crystal composition that exhibits the blue phase exhibits a polymer-stabilized blue phase without being unevenly irradiated with light while maintaining the temperature within the range of 59.5 占 폚 to 60.5 占 폚.

The polymerizable monomer is a material for stabilizing the composition of a nematic liquid crystal composition or a liquid crystal composition which expresses a polymer-stabilized blue phase.

1 and 2, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a light irradiation unit 10, an irradiation box 20, a stage 30, a chamber 40, a circulating air conditioning apparatus 5, A warming chamber 60, a control means 80, and the like.

The light irradiation unit 10 emits light and includes a stage 30 facing the window member 21 that transmits light from the light irradiation unit 10 in the irradiation box 20, specifically, the irradiation box 20, It is possible to irradiate light to the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the window member 21 through the window member 21. The light irradiation unit 10 includes a plurality of rod lamps 11 as a light source and a mirror 12 that reflects the light emitted by the rod lamps 11 toward the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 have. The rod-like lamp 11 is a tubular lamp that extends in a straight line, such as a metal halide such as mercury, iron or iodine, or a metal halide that encloses a rare gas such as argon and emits ultraviolet rays. The rod-shaped lamp 11 has a main wavelength of 300 to 400 nm and an illuminance of light (ultraviolet ray) having a wavelength of 365 nm of 15 mW / cm 2 or less. UV-SN35 (available from Oak Seisyakusho Co., Ltd.) may be used as a photoreceptor using UV-M02 (Oak Seisyakusho Co., Ltd.) as an illuminometer.

In the present embodiment, four bar lamps 11 are provided and disposed above the irradiation box 2, the stage 30, and the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31. [ The rod-like lamp 11 is covered with a water-cooling jacket (not shown) through which light irradiated by the rod lamp 11 passes. The water-cooled jacket is charged with water, and circulates the charged water to maintain the rod lamp 11 at a desired operating temperature.

The light irradiating unit 10 is opened or closed so that the light emitted from the rod lamp 11 is irradiated to the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 or the rod lamp 11 And a shutter 13 that cuts off the emitted light and regulates the irradiation of the panel 2 to be processed. The shutter 13 is provided between the rod lamp 11 and the irradiation box 20.

The irradiation box 20 is formed in a box shape and is disposed on the stage 30 so as to receive the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30. The irradiation box 20 is provided between the light irradiation unit 10 and the placement surface 31 and has the window member 21 to which the light from the light irradiation unit 10 is irradiated.

The window member 21 has a function of suppressing the transmission of both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength. The window member 21 transmits light having a wavelength suitable for the liquid crystal layer 5 to express the polymer-stabilized blue phase, and suppresses (restricts) transmission of other light. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the window member 21 is formed by overlapping the first filter 22 and the second filter 23. The first filter 22 transmits ultraviolet rays whose wavelengths are A to B as shown by the solid line in Fig. 3, and other light (wavelength [nm] is ultraviolet rays whose wavelengths are shorter than A and whose wavelength [nm] (Longer ultraviolet rays, visible rays, and infrared rays). The second filter 23 transmits ultraviolet rays, visible rays and infrared rays having wavelengths [C] to D as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and transmits the other light (particularly, the wavelength [nm] Ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays whose wavelength [nm] is longer than D). C is longer than A, shorter than B, and B is shorter than D. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the window member 21 transmits ultraviolet rays having wavelengths [C] to [B] as shown by diagonal lines in FIG. 3 and suppresses (restricts) transmission of other light. In the present invention, by forming the window member 21 by depositing a filter that transmits ultraviolet rays having wavelengths A to B and suppresses (restricts) the transmission of other light to the second filter 23 described above good.

In addition, in the present invention, the window member 21 is a filter that suppresses (restricts) the transmission of ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength if the liquid crystal layer 5 can transmit light of a wavelength suitable for expressing the polymer-stabilized blue phase Or may be constituted by a filter for suppressing (limiting) the transmission of infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength. As described above, in the present invention, the window member 21 has a function of suppressing (limiting) the transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength by the wavelength suitable for expressing the polymer-stabilized blue phase of the liquid crystal layer 5 It is good.

The stage 30 is provided with a disposition surface 31 for disposing the target panel 2 and circulating water as a liquid at a predetermined temperature in the inside of the target panel 2 disposed on the disposition surface 31 To control the temperature. The stage 30 circulates water as a liquid at a constant temperature in order to control the temperature of the region of the placement surface 31 irradiated with the light. The placement surface 31 is provided so as to face the window member 21 and faces the light irradiation unit 10. In the present invention, it is preferable that the temperature at which the panel 2 to be disposed on the placement surface 31 is held is constant, and the temperature of the panel 2 to be disposed on the placement surface 31 is kept constant The temperature of the liquid as the fluid circulated in the stage 30 may be slightly lower than the temperature of the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 or may be slightly higher. In addition, in the present invention, the stage 30 may circulate various liquids in addition to water.

On the stage 30, the color filter substrate 3 side is disposed on the target panel 2 so as to be in contact with the arrangement surface 31. That is, the target panel 2 is disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 is brought into contact with the placement surface 31. Therefore, the light irradiation unit 10 irradiates the light to the target panel 2 from the side of the counter substrate 4.

The stage 30 is formed into a thick flat plate composed of an aluminum alloy or the like and has a circulation path (not shown) in which a liquid having a temperature at which the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed reaches a desired temperature is circulated. The liquid circulation means 32 for circulating the liquid in the circulation path of the stage 30 is connected to the stage 30 while keeping the temperature of the panel 2 constant. The liquid warm circulating means 32 includes, for example, a pipe 33 (partially shown in FIG. 2) connected to a circulation path for circulating the liquid, a well-known heater, a pump for sending the liquid in the cooling device or the pipe 33 .

The chamber 40 is formed in a box shape and covers the whole of the irradiation box 20 and the stage 30 and is provided with a light irradiation part 10 on the upper part. That is, the chamber 40 is arranged to cover the irradiation box 20 and the stage 30.

1, the circulation type air conditioner 50 includes an inlet 51 and an outlet 52 provided in the chamber 40, and a gas as a medium introduced from the inlet 51 flows through the outlet 52 And controls the temperature in the chamber 40. [ The circulating type air conditioning apparatus 50 discharges the gas introduced from the inlet 51 from the outlet 52 and controls the temperature in the chamber 40 so that the temperature in the chamber 40, And the temperature of the processing panel 2 is maintained at a constant temperature.

In the present embodiment, the introduction port 51 and the discharge port 52 are opened in the outer wall of the chamber 40, and the opening portion thereof is disposed above the irradiation box 20. The circulation type air conditioner 50 allows the gas introduced from the introduction port 41 to flow in the chamber 40 and to discharge the air from the outlet port 52. The circulation type air conditioner 50 includes a blowing pipe 53 for circulating the gas sequentially through the inlet 51, the chamber 40 and the outlet 52 in addition to the inlet 51 and the outlet 52, for example. A well-known heater for keeping the gas at a constant temperature, a blower for blowing out the gas in the cooling device and the blowing pipe 53, and the like.

In the present invention, the temperature of the gas circulating through the inlet port 51, the chamber 40, and the outlet port 52, and the temperature at which the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 is maintained, The temperature of the gas to be circulated is lower than the temperature of the panel 2 to be disposed on the placement surface 31 so long as the temperature of the gas to be circulated is maintained at a constant temperature It may be slightly lower or slightly higher. In addition, the temperature of the gas is a target temperature, and may be different from the actual temperature.

The warming chamber 60 allows the subject panel 2 to move between the chambers 40. The warming chamber 60 is formed in a box shape and accommodates the stage 30 in the interior of the chamber 40 in the same manner as the inside of the chamber 40. The temperature of the internal gas is controlled by the circulating air- It is maintained at the same temperature as the gas. Since the stage 30 accommodated in the heat retaining chamber 60 has the same configuration as that of the above-described stage 30, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description is omitted. The stage 30 is rotated in the liquid circulating manner so that the temperature of the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 becomes equal to the temperature of the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 The liquid is circulated in the circulation path by the means (32).

The circulating type air conditioner 70 has an inlet 71 and an outlet 72 provided in the warming chamber 60 and has an inlet 72 and an outlet 72. The inlet 71 and the outlet 72 are provided in the same way as the circulating- The gas as the medium is discharged from the discharge port 72 to control the temperature in the warming chamber 60. [ The circulating type air conditioning apparatus 70 further includes a blowing pipe 71 for circulating the gas in the inlet port 71, the chamber 60, and the outlet port 72 in addition to the inlet port 71 and the outlet port 72, A known heater for keeping the gas at a constant temperature, a blower for blowing out the gas in the cooling device and the blowing pipe 53, and the like. The inlet port 71 and the outlet port 72 are opened in the outer wall of the heat retaining chamber 60 and the opening thereof is disposed above the placement surface 31 of the stage 30. In this embodiment,

The manufacturing apparatus 1 is also provided with a liquid circulating circulation path provided inside the stage 30, water circulated in the water-cooling jacket, or water circulating in the chamber 40 (for example, And a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of a gas or the like circulating in and out of the warming chamber 60 are provided. The manufacturing apparatus 1 detects the flow rate of the gas introduced into the chamber 40 or the warming chamber 60 from the inlet ports 51 and 71 at appropriate portions such as the vicinity of the inlet ports 51 and 71, A flow sensor is installed.

The shutter 40 is opened by the shutters 43 and 63 when the to-be-processed panel 2 is put in or taken out from the chamber 40 and the insulated chamber 60. When the to-be-processed panel 2 is accommodated, 63, which are closed by an opening / closing opening / closing openings 44, 64, respectively. The chamber 40 and the heat retaining chamber 60 are brought into and out of the panel 2 to be processed by a robot arm (not shown) through the entrance / exit openings 44 and 64.

In the stage 30 of the chamber 40 and the stage 30 of the warming chamber 60 are placed a stage 30 of the warming chamber 60 and a stage 30 of the chamber 40, (Not shown) for conveying the panel 2 to be processed. The chamber 40 and the warming chamber 60 are opened by the shutter 66 when the to-be-processed panel 2 is conveyed from the warming chamber 60 into the irradiation box 20 of the chamber 40, And conveying passages 45 and 65 which are closed by the shutter 66 when the processing panel 2 is accommodated. As described above, the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment can prevent the to-be-treated panel 2 in the warming chamber 60 from contacting the outside of the warming chamber 60 to the irradiation box 20 The panel 2 is directly conveyed to the inside of the panel 2.

The control means 80 controls the irradiation operation of the light by the manufacturing apparatus 1. [ The control means 80 is connected to the liquid heat circulation means 32, the circulation type air conditioners 50, 70, the light irradiation portion 10, and the like. The control means 80 is constituted mainly by a microprocessor, not shown, having an arithmetic processing unit composed of, for example, a CPU or the like, a ROM, a RAM and the like, and includes display means for displaying the state of the processing operation, And is connected to operating means used when registering contents information and the like.

The control means 80 opens the shutter 13 when irradiating light from the light irradiating portion 10 to the panel 2 disposed on the arrangement surface 31 of the stage 30, The temperature of the water filled in the water-cooled jacket covering the rod lamp 11 is controlled to maintain the rod lamp 11 at a desired operating temperature. When the light irradiating unit 10 irradiates the light to the panel 2 disposed on the stage surface 30 of the stage 30, the control unit 80 opens the shutter 13, The temperature of the liquid circulated to the stage 30 is controlled to be constant by controlling the liquid warming circulation means 32 based on the detection results of the circulation type air conditioning apparatus 50 and the like, The temperature of the gas to be circulated is kept constant so that the temperature of the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 is kept constant.

For example, when light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 10 to the panel 2 to be processed by the control unit 80, the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated at the time of irradiation of the light is between 10 ° C and 70 ° C The stage 30 and the circulation type air conditioner 50 are controlled so as to fall within a range of 占. That is, in the present invention, the temperature of the panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 is kept constant. That is, within a range of 占 0 占 폚 Temperature. For example, when the set temperature is 55 ° C, the control means 80 controls the liquid heat circulation means 32 so that the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated is maintained within the range of 54.5 ° C to 55.5 ° C The temperature of the circulating liquid and the temperature in the irradiation box 20 and the like are controlled. When the set temperature is 60 占 폚, the control means 80 controls the temperature of the liquid to be circulated to the liquid warm circulating means 32 so that the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed is maintained within the range of 59.5 占 폚 to 60.5 占 폚 The temperature and the flow rate of the gas introduced into the irradiation box 20, the temperature, and the like are controlled.

The temperature equivalent to that in the chamber 40 inside the warming chamber 60 is preferably the temperature when the panel 2 is moved from the inside of the warming chamber 60 to the chamber 40, 10 indicates a temperature at which the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated is within ± 0.5 ° C with respect to the set temperature during the preparatory operation for irradiating light. In the present invention, the temperature equivalent to the temperature inside the chamber 40 inside the warming chamber 60 means that when the panel 2 is moved from the inside of the warming chamber 60 to the chamber 40, The time required for the temperature of the target panel 2 to fall within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to the set temperature is the temperature of the target panel 2 when the target panel 2 is directly moved into the chamber 40 The temperature may be shorter than the time taken until the temperature becomes within ± 0.5 ° C.

Next, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel using the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the above-described configuration, that is, a method for irradiating light to the target panel 2 will be described. First, the operator registers the processing content information in the control means 80, and starts the processing operation when there is an instruction to start the processing operation. In the processing operation, first, the shutter 63 of the warming chamber 60 is opened, and the panel to be treated 2 is moved to the stage 30 of the warming chamber 60 by the robot arm or the like, As shown in Fig. The control means 80 closes the shutter 63 and circulates the liquid in the stage 30 and introduces the gas into the warming chamber 60 through the inlet port 51 and discharges the gas from the outlet port 52 . At the same time, at the same time, the control means 80 causes the liquid to flow in the stage 30, introduces the gas into the chamber 40 through the inlet port 51, discharges the gas from the outlet port 52, Circulate.

The temperature of the target panel 2 becomes the set temperature. The shutter 66 is opened to allow the panel 2 to be treated from the warming chamber 60 to the irradiation box 66 of the chamber 40 through the conveying passages 45 and 65, (20). The control means 80 places the subject panel 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 and accommodates the subject panel 20 and closes the shutter 66. [ The control means 80 turns on the rod lamp 11 and opens the shutter 13. [ The control means 80 controls the flow of the water on the placing surface 31 while circulating water at a constant temperature in the stage 30 and introducing any gas from the inlet 51 into the chamber 40 and circulating the gas from the outlet 52. [ And irradiates light to the panel to be processed 2 from the light irradiation unit 10 through the window member 21 for a predetermined period of time. At this time, for example, the target panel 2 is irradiated with light having a wavelength of 365 nm and an illuminance of 2 mW / cm 2.

The control means 80 closes the shutter 13 and opens the shutter 43 of the chamber 40. The control means 80 opens the shutter 43 of the chamber 40 by the robot arm or the like via the entrance / 2 is separated from the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the irradiation box 20 of the chamber 40 and is conveyed to the next process. After the transfer of the chamber 40 into the irradiation box 20 from the warming chamber 60 of the panel 2 to be treated, the control means 80 sets the panel 2 to be treated in the light source to the warming chamber 60 ) On the stage surface (30) of the stage (30). The light is irradiated in the same manner as the above-described process. As described above, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel using the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, before the subject panel 2 is disposed on the arrangement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the chamber 40, The target panel 2 is positioned in the warming chamber 60 maintained at a temperature equivalent to that of the inside of the processing chamber 40.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel according to the embodiment of the above-described configuration, the target panel 2 can be moved between the chamber 40 and the chamber 40 while being maintained at the same temperature as the inside of the chamber 40 And a warming chamber 60 for heating and cooling. According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the target panel 2 is disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the chamber 40, The target panel 2 is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 of the warming chamber 60 for a predetermined time. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature of the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the chamber 40 becomes the set temperature, It is possible to shorten the time until the subject panel 2 is placed on the placing surface 31 of the stage 30 in the chamber 40 and then irradiated with light. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the time for placing the target panel 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the chamber 40 can be shortened, The productivity of the panel 2 can be improved.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the liquid crystal panel manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the above-described configuration, the liquid is circulated in the stage 30 and the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated is controlled to be maintained at a constant temperature The gas in the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20 accommodating the target panel 2 is kept constant. According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature inside the irradiation box 20 accommodating the panel 2 to be processed and the outside of the irradiation box 20, i.e., inside the chamber 40 The temperature of the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed from being radiated to the chamber 40, so that the temperature change in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, a change in the temperature of the panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed. According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature of the panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 can be kept constant by the liquid in the stage 30. [ Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature change of the panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the window member 21 transmits light of a wavelength suitable for expressing the polymer-stabilized blue phase and restricts transmission of other light, The treatment panel 2 is irradiated with only the minimum necessary light to express the polymer-stabilized blue phase. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, even if light is irradiated from the light irradiation section 10 to the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31, Undesired light is suppressed from being irradiated. Particularly, it is possible to suppress the irradiation of unwanted light such as infrared rays, which causes a temperature change, on the panel 2 to be treated. Therefore, the temperature of the panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 can be prevented from rising. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature change of the panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed more reliably.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the gas is introduced into the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20. Therefore, the temperature of the gas in the chamber 40 and the temperature in the irradiation box 20 can be kept substantially equal. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the unevenness of the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed can be suppressed.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, a gas of a constant temperature is introduced into the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated at the time of irradiation of light is reduced to, for example, 50 占 폚 or 60 占 폚, It is possible to suppress the temperature change of the panel 2 to be treated due to the heat radiation due to the temperature difference with the outside of the manufacturing apparatus 1 from the target panel 2 installed in the irradiation box 20 .

Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, it is possible to suppress the unevenness of the temperature of the panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31, The change can be suppressed.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the panel 2 to be treated is placed on the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 is brought into contact with the arrangement surface 31, (4). Further, according to the production apparatus 1, the liquid crystal layer 5 includes a liquid crystal composition which expresses a polymer-stabilized blue phase. The light irradiating unit 10 is provided with a rod-like lamp 11 having a main wavelength of 300 to 400 nm and an illuminance of 15 mW / cm 2 or less at a wavelength of 365 nm. The temperature of the liquid to be treated 2 when the light is irradiated on the panel 2 to be treated is set to be within ± 0.5 ° C with respect to the set temperature between 10 ° C and 70 ° C, And the gas introduced into the irradiation box 20. Therefore, according to the production apparatus 1, the polymer-stabilized blue phase can be reliably expressed by causing light to act on the liquid crystal layer 5. [

According to the manufacturing apparatus 1, since the openings of the introduction port 51 and the discharge port 52 are disposed above the irradiation box 20, the gas is hardly brought into direct contact with the irradiation box 20, The temperature change of the gas in the box 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the temperature change of the gas in the irradiation box 20 can be further suppressed.

If the temperature of the chamber 40 to be irradiated on the placement surface 31 of the stage 40 of the chamber 40 is maintained at a desired temperature, When it is desired to set the temperature, the warming chamber 60 may be set at, for example, 40 占 폚. The temperature of the heat retaining chamber 60 may be set at, for example, 80 DEG C in consideration of a decrease in temperature while the subject panel 2 is being conveyed from the heat retention chamber 60 to the chamber 40. [

The circulation type air conditioner 50 provided in the chamber 40 and the circulation type air conditioner 70 provided in the warming chamber 60 may be constituted by either one of them. For example, the chamber 40 and the warming chamber 60 may be maintained at the same temperature by only the circulating air cooling apparatus 50 installed in the chamber 40, and the circulating air conditioning apparatus 70 installed in the warming chamber 60 may be maintained at the same temperature. The temperature of the chamber 40 and the temperature of the heat retaining chamber 60 may be maintained at the same temperature. The circulation type air conditioner 50 installed in the chamber 40 is set to a desired temperature and the temperature of the heat retaining chamber 60 is set to a predetermined value It may be slightly lower than the temperature. When the circulating type air conditioner 70 is installed, for example, the circulating type air conditioner 70 installed in the chamber 40 is set to a desired temperature, and the temperature of the heat retention chamber 60 is set to the temperature of the chamber 40 ). ≪ / RTI >

The circulating type air conditioner 50 installed in the chamber 40 and the circulating air conditioner 70 installed in the warming chamber 60 may be the same. In this case, the gas blown from the circulation type air conditioner 50 is introduced into the inlet port 51 of the chamber 40, the chamber 40, the outlet port 52, the inlet port 71 of the warming chamber 60 ), The heat retaining chamber 60, and the discharge port 72 in this order. The gas blown from the circulation type air conditioner 50 is branched into the introduction port 51 of the chamber 40 and the introduction port 71 of the warming chamber 60 for example, May be sequentially circulated through the chamber 60 through the outlet 52 of the chamber 40 and the outlet 72 of the warming chamber 60. [

[Modifications]

Next, an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel (hereinafter simply referred to as a manufacturing apparatus) 1-1 according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to a modified example of the embodiment. In Fig. 5, the same reference numerals as in the above-described embodiment are given and explained.

As shown in Fig. 5, the manufacturing apparatus 1-1 according to the modified example is provided with two chambers 40 without the above-described retaining chamber 60. [ The rod lamps 11 and the mirrors 12 of the light irradiation unit 10 are provided so as to be movable over the positions shown by solid lines and dotted lines in Fig. 5, that is, , The bar lamp 11 or the light irradiation unit 10 irradiates light to the target panel 2 on the arrangement surface 31 of the stage 30 of either one of the chambers 40. [ The chambers 40 are each provided with a counter entry / exit opening 44 through which the panel 2 is moved in and out by the robot arm and is opened and closed by the shutter 43, The conveying passages 45 and 65 are not provided.

In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel using the manufacturing apparatus 1-1 according to the modified example, the control means 80 controls the rod lamp 11 and the mirror 12 of the light irradiation unit 10 in the two chambers 40, And alternately irradiates light to the target panel 2 disposed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 of the two chambers 40. [ In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel using the manufacturing apparatus 1-1 according to the modified example, the control means 80 controls the panel 2 in the one chamber 40 to which the light is irradiated, as a robot arm or the like And the to-be-processed panel 2 of the light source dictionary is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 in the one chamber 40. [ At the same time, at the same time, the control means 80 positions the rod lamp 11 and the mirror 12 in the other chamber 40 and moves the stage 30 on the stage 30 of the other chamber 40 And irradiates light to the panel 2 to be processed.

It should be noted that in the modified example, the side of the two panels 40 on which the light irradiation part 10 is not located on the upper side, that is, the side on which the target panel 2 is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 One of the chambers 40 corresponds to the insulated chamber described in the claims. In the modified example, on the side where the light irradiation part 10 is located on the upper side of the two chambers 40, that is, the side on which the light is irradiated to the target panel 2 on the arrangement surface 31 of the stage 30 And the other of the chambers 40 corresponds to the chamber described in the claims. In short, in the alternative, the two chambers 40 are alternately equivalent to the chamber and the insulated chamber described in the claims. By alternately moving the rod lamp 11 and the mirror 12 of the light irradiating unit 10 to the two chambers 40 in the modification example, the distance between the chamber 2 and the chamber to be treated 2 ).

Next, the effects of the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel according to the above-described embodiment were confirmed. The results are shown in Fig. 6 is a graph showing temperature changes of the panel to be treated of the comparative example and the inventive product.

6, the elapsed time from the disposition of the target panel 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 of the chamber 40 is represented by a horizontal axis, Is represented by the vertical axis. In the case shown in Fig. 6, the set temperature is set at 50 캜. 6 uses the manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in the embodiment and the comparative example shown by the one-dot chain line in Fig. 6 does not include the warming chamber 60 and only the chamber 40 And the like.

According to the temperature change shown in Fig. 6, it is apparent that the comparative example takes 60 seconds until the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed reaches the set temperature of 50 占 폚 within the range of 占 0.5 占 폚. In this comparative example, the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated immediately after placing the subject panel 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 of the present invention is set to 0.5 ° C Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > of < / RTI > Therefore, according to the result shown in FIG. 6, the present invention is capable of irradiating light to the target panel 2 immediately after placing the target panel 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 of the chamber 40 And it is clear that the productivity of the panel 2 to be processed can be improved.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof as well as those included in the scope and gist of the invention.

1: Manufacturing apparatus of liquid crystal panel 2: Processed panel 3: Color filter substrate
4: opposing substrate 5: liquid crystal layer 10:
11: rod shaped lamp (light source) 20: irradiation box 21: window
30: stage 31: placement surface 40: chamber
50: circulating type air conditioner 51: inlet 52: outlet
53: blower tube 60: insulated chamber
70: circulating type air conditioner 71: inlet 72: outlet
73: blowing pipe 80: control means

Claims (7)

A light irradiating portion for emitting light;
An irradiation box having a window material that transmits light from the light irradiation portion;
A stage disposed so as to face the window member and having a disposition surface on which a panel to be processed is disposed, a stage for circulating a liquid for controlling a temperature of an area of the disposition surface irradiated with the light;
A chamber covering the irradiation box and the stage;
A circulation type air conditioning apparatus having an inlet and an outlet provided in the chamber, and a gas introduced from the inlet is discharged from the outlet to control the temperature in the chamber; And
And a holding chamber for moving the panel to be processed between the chamber and the chamber. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the window member has a function of suppressing transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength or suppressing transmission of both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays of predetermined wavelengths. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the panel to be processed has a color filter substrate, a counter substrate facing the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the color filter substrate and the counter substrate,
Wherein the panel to be processed is arranged on the stage so that the color filter substrate side is in contact with the arrangement surface and the light irradiation unit irradiates the light from the counter substrate side to the panel to be processed. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the liquid crystal layer contains at least a nematic liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition that displays a blue phase, and a polymerizable monomer, and emits a polymer-stabilized blue phase upon irradiation of the light. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the light irradiating part has a main wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm and a light source having a light intensity of 365 nm at the arrangement surface of 15 mW / cm 2 or less. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein said stage and said circulating air conditioning apparatus are controlled so that the temperature of said panel to be treated when said light is irradiated on said panel to be processed is within +/- 0.5 DEG C with respect to a set temperature between 10 DEG C and 70 DEG C, A manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal panel. In order to control the temperature, a panel to be processed is arranged on a placement surface of a stage for circulating liquid of a predetermined temperature therein,
Receiving the panel to be processed in an irradiation box having a window that faces the placement surface and is irradiated with light from the irradiation section,
A chamber provided with an introduction port and an outlet port is disposed to cover the stage and the irradiation box,
And a control unit for controlling the flow of the liquid through the window to the target panel disposed on the placement surface while circulating a liquid at a predetermined temperature in the stage and introducing a medium at a predetermined temperature from the introduction port into the chamber, A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel for irradiating light from an irradiation part,
And positioning the to-be-processed panel in the heat retaining chamber before disposing the to-be-processed panel on the arrangement surface of the stage.

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