WO2011013421A1

WO2011013421A1 - Liquid crystal dripping apparatus and method wherein jetting mode of liquid crystal is changed

Info

Publication number: WO2011013421A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/057234
Authority: WO
Inventors: 康弘古澤
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2009-07-29
Filing date: 2010-04-23
Publication date: 2011-02-03
Also published as: CN102472930A; JP5284474B2; CN102472930B; JPWO2011013421A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a liquid crystal dripping apparatus (101) wherein a row composed of a plurality of jetting ports for dripping a liquid crystal onto a substrate is formed on the outer circumferential surface of a head (11). The liquid crystal dripping apparatus (101) is provided with: a jetting section, which jets the liquid crystal onto the substrate (8) from each jetting port, corresponding to a shift of the head (11) in the Y direction; and a plurality of shutters, which are provided corresponding to respective jetting ports on the outer circumferential surface of the head (11) and open/close the corresponding jetting ports, respectively. The row extends in the X direction, and the interval between the jetting ports in the row is equal to or smaller than the minimum dripping interval instructed by means of a liquid crystal dripping pattern. Each of the shutters includes a plate, and opens/closes each of the jetting ports by electronically sliding the plate in accordance with the pattern data that corresponds to the liquid crystal dripping pattern.

Description

Liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method for changing liquid crystal discharge mode

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method having a function of changing a discharge mode of liquid crystal to be dropped on a substrate.

There are two methods for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel: a method in which two substrates are bonded to each other and a step in which liquid crystal is sealed, and a method in which these two steps can be performed simultaneously. A liquid crystal dropping method has been proposed as the latter method.

In the liquid crystal dropping method, a sealing material is disposed on one of two substrates to be bonded to each other. Liquid crystal is dropped on a region corresponding to the inside of the sealing material of either one of the substrates. These two substrates are bonded together in a vacuum.

Next, after adjusting the distance between the two substrates at atmospheric pressure, the sealing material is cured. A plurality of liquid crystal display cells are formed on a bonded substrate obtained by bonding two substrates. Next, the bonded substrate is divided into a plurality of panels composed of a plurality of liquid crystal display cells to manufacture a liquid crystal display panel.

In the liquid crystal dropping method, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal is dropped on the substrate from the nozzle of the liquid crystal dropping syringe before the substrates are bonded together, and then the substrate is bonded and the liquid crystal is sealed. For this reason, when the dripping amount of the liquid crystal is small, problems such as the liquid crystal display cell containing bubbles or the cell thickness being thin occur. On the other hand, if the amount of liquid crystal dripped is large, problems such as liquid crystal leaking from the liquid crystal display cell and the cell thickness becoming thick occur.

Conventionally, in an apparatus for dropping liquid crystal, in order to maintain an appropriate amount of liquid crystal, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-241208) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-358282), Technology has been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-241208 JP 2004-358282 A

38 and 39 schematically show an example of a liquid crystal dropping mode using a conventional liquid crystal dropping device. Referring to FIG. 38, a gantry (base) provided so as to straddle the substrate is provided with a plurality of heads fixedly spaced at predetermined intervals so as to face the substrate main surface in order to drop liquid crystal. It is done. In order to drop the liquid crystal on the substrate, the head moves in the short direction while the gantry reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. Accordingly, the head moves according to the locus indicated by the arrow in FIG. 38 while dropping the liquid crystal from the discharge port (in this specification, the liquid crystal droplet discharged per drop is also referred to as a droplet). As a result, as shown in FIG. 39, a necessary amount of liquid crystal is dropped on the main surface of the substrate.

38 and 39, the head is moved at a predetermined pitch and speed, and the liquid crystal is dropped on the entire substrate. For this reason, for example, a single substrate is divided to obtain a plurality of liquid crystal panels having different sizes for display or the like (this is called “co-collection”). However, there is a problem that it takes too much tact time (production time) because the number of reciprocations increases under conditions such as a small number of times.

In order to solve this problem, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-241208), liquid crystal is dropped only from the discharge ports corresponding to the planned dropping region among the plurality of discharge ports provided in a row in the head. To do. In Patent Document 2, the liquid crystal is dropped while shifting the positions of a plurality of ejection openings provided in a row in the head with respect to the substrate according to the planned dropping area.

However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since it is necessary to provide a piezoelectric element corresponding to each discharge port and to form an independent pressurizing chamber for each piezoelectric element, the pitch (interval width) between the discharge ports is sufficiently large. Cannot be made smaller. Therefore, the liquid crystal dropping interval on the substrate cannot be made sufficiently small. When producing a panel in which the dropping interval is to be reduced, the reciprocation shown in FIG. 38 is required, and the tact time must be increased.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method capable of shortening the production time with a simple configuration.

A liquid crystal dropping device according to an aspect of the present invention has a hollow columnar shape inside, and a row formed of a plurality of discharge ports for dropping liquid crystal filled in the hollow on a substrate is formed on an outer peripheral surface. A head, a moving unit for moving the head, a discharge control unit for discharging liquid crystal from each discharge port onto the substrate in accordance with the movement of the head by the moving unit, and each discharge on the outer peripheral surface of the head. A plurality of opening / closing sections provided corresponding to the outlets for opening / closing the corresponding discharge ports, and an opening / closing control section for controlling the plurality of opening / closing sections.

The rows extend in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the head, and the interval width of the ejection openings in the row is equal to or less than the minimum width of the drop interval indicated by the liquid crystal drop pattern. The open / close control unit includes a plate, and according to the pattern data corresponding to the liquid crystal dropping pattern, the plate of each open / close unit is electronically slid on the discharge port corresponding to the open / close unit to open / close the discharge port. To do.

Preferably, the head includes a plurality of divided heads divided in a predetermined direction in which the rows extend, and the type of liquid crystal material filled in the hollow is different for each of the plurality of divided heads.

Preferably, a plurality of rows are formed at a predetermined interval width on the outer peripheral surface of the head, and the size of the ejection port is different for each row.

Preferably, the head rotates around a central axis extending in a predetermined direction of the column shape according to an angle corresponding to a predetermined interval width.

Preferably, when the head is moved by the moving unit, the position detecting unit detects the position of the head on the substrate, the plurality of types of position data on the substrate, and the plurality of types of position data are different. A storage unit for storing pattern data, and the opening / closing control unit reads the corresponding pattern data from the storage unit based on the position of the head detected by the position detection unit, thereby opening and closing the pattern for opening / closing control. Switch data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal dropping method having a hollow columnar shape inside, and a row of a plurality of discharge ports arranged on the substrate for dropping the liquid crystal filled in the hollow onto the substrate. This is a liquid crystal dropping method using the formed head.

The liquid crystal dropping method includes a step of opening and closing each discharge port of the row on the outer peripheral surface of the head, and a step of discharging liquid crystal from each discharge port onto the substrate according to the movement of the head.

The rows extend in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the head, and the interval width of the ejection openings in the row is equal to or less than the minimum width of the drop interval indicated by the liquid crystal drop pattern. In the step of opening and closing, according to the opening and closing pattern data corresponding to the liquid crystal dropping pattern, the discharge port is opened and closed by electronically sliding the plate provided corresponding to each discharge port on the corresponding discharge port. The

According to the present invention, the production time of the liquid crystal substrate can be shortened by simplifying the internal structure of the head.

1 is a schematic view of a liquid crystal dropping device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the opening-and-closing control mechanism of the discharge port provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure which expands and shows a part of opening-and-closing control mechanism of the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the liquid crystal dripping from the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the electronic opening-and-closing control mechanism of the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the electronic opening-and-closing control mechanism of the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the electronic opening-and-closing control mechanism of the discharge outlet provided in the head concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the circuit structure of the electronic opening / closing control of the discharge outlet which concerns on each embodiment. It is a timing chart of the drive signal of the circuit of the electronic opening / closing control of the discharge outlet concerning each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the movement of a plate in relation to the timing chart of FIG. It is a figure explaining the structure of the shutter control part which concerns on each embodiment in association with the structure of a peripheral circuit. It is a figure explaining the liquid-crystal supply mechanism which concerns on each embodiment. It is a figure explaining the liquid-crystal supply mechanism which concerns on each embodiment. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel which concerns on each embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the liquid crystal dropping process of FIG. 15 simply. 3 is a flowchart of a liquid crystal dropping process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an overview diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a head according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an overview of a liquid crystal dropping device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining discharge ports formed in a head according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the size of a discharge port and the size of a droplet according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the size of a discharge port and the size of a droplet according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the size of a discharge port and the size of a droplet according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the size of a discharge port and the size of a droplet according to a third embodiment. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a liquid crystal dropping process according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 6 is an overview diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to a fourth embodiment. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a liquid crystal dropping state by a head according to Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of a liquid crystal dropping process according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of co-taking by a liquid crystal dropping device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining co-taking by a conventional liquid crystal dropping device corresponding to FIG. 32. It is a figure explaining the other example of co-recovery by the liquid crystal dropping apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5. FIG. FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining co-taking by a conventional liquid crystal dropping device as compared with FIG. 34. FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining co-taking by a conventional liquid crystal dropping device as compared with FIG. 34. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of a liquid crystal dropping device according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of a liquid crystal dropping process according to the fifth embodiment. It is a figure explaining the conventional liquid crystal dropping apparatus. It is a figure explaining the liquid crystal dripping by the movement of a head in relation to FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the liquid crystal dropping device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols in the respective drawings, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal dropping apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment includes a gantry 10, a stage 9 installed on the gantry 10, and a plurality of liquid crystal discharge ports (not shown) facing the surface of the stage 9. The head 11 which has a piece, and the column 42 to which the head 11 was attached are provided. Further, the liquid crystal dropping device 101 includes a liquid crystal supply device 22 attached to the column 42, and a liquid crystal supply pipe 23 for supplying liquid crystal stored in advance in the liquid crystal supply device 22 to the head 11. The stage 9 is formed in a flat plate shape, and a color filter substrate 8 is carried in and placed thereon.

On the substrate 8, a spacer is also provided to keep a distance from a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate to be bonded later. The stage 9 fixes and holds the placed substrate 8, and a positioning mark 8 </ b> A is printed in advance on the main surface of the substrate 8. On the main surface of the substrate 8, a required amount of liquid crystal (liquid substance) is dropped from a plurality of discharge ports (not shown) of the head 11 provided to face the main surface. Here, the surface on which the liquid crystal of the substrate 8 is to be dropped is referred to as a main surface.

It is assumed that the surface of the stage 9 and the main surface of the substrate 8 placed on the stage 9 are two-dimensional coordinate planes defined by two orthogonal X and Y axes. Here, the direction in which the X axis extends is referred to as the X direction, and the direction in which the Y axis extends is referred to as the Y direction. Assuming a Z axis orthogonal to each of the X axis and the Y axis, the direction in which the Z axis extends is referred to as the Z direction.

The column 42 is mounted in a gate shape on the gantry 10 across the stage 9 in the X direction. The head 11 is integrally attached to the column 42. The column 42 is driven by a head moving motor 661 (described later) provided inside the gantry 10. As a result, the column 42 and the head 11 freely move along an axis extending in the Y direction as indicated by an arrow in the figure.

The liquid crystal dropping device 101 further includes a computer 5 having a function for controlling the movement of the column 42 (head 11) and dropping of the liquid crystal from the discharge port, and a camera 4 such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera. . The computer 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a memory 53 for storing program data, an input unit 54, an I / F (Interface) 52, and an output unit 55. The input unit 54 including a display, a voice output unit, a printing unit, and the like includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for inputting information given from the outside such as an operator's instruction. The I / F 52 inputs image data output when the camera 4 captures a subject and outputs a signal for controlling the movement of the column 42 and the discharge of the liquid crystal. The output unit 55 includes a display, an audio output unit, a printing unit, and the like.

The direction in which the camera 4 captures the subject coincides with the direction in which the entire substrate 8 placed on the stage 9 is viewed from above. Therefore, the column 42 straddling the substrate 8 can also be included in the imaging field of view.

2 to 12 show a discharge port provided in the head 11 and a mechanism for controlling opening and closing of the discharge port. FIG. 13 shows a mechanism for supplying liquid crystal to the head 11. FIG. 14 shows a functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping device according to the present embodiment.

The production process of the liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. When manufacturing a liquid crystal panel, generally, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a color filter (CF) layer is provided on one main surface of two glass substrates, and the other glass substrate is provided. A thin film transistor (TFT: Thin Film Transistor) layer is formed on the main surface. An ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film to be an electrode is formed on the color filter layer on one substrate (in FIG. 15, a glass substrate on which the color filter layer is formed), and then a liquid crystal material is formed on the ITO film. An alignment film for controlling the directivity of the film is formed, and a sealing agent is applied (drawn) onto the alignment film. The sealing agent acts as a sealing agent for a liquid crystal panel to be obtained later by dividing the glass substrate. After the sealing agent is applied, liquid crystal is dropped onto the main surface of the glass substrate using the liquid crystal dropping device 101 according to this embodiment. The glass substrate on which the liquid crystal is dropped is bonded to the other glass substrate on which the TFT layer is formed with the dropped liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. Thereafter, the deflecting plate is attached to the substrate obtained by bonding. If necessary, a plurality of liquid crystal panels are manufactured from a single glass substrate by dividing the substrate into a desired panel size (co-removal).

In each embodiment, a liquid crystal dropping process among these processes will be described.
As the processing by the liquid crystal dropping device 101, as shown in FIG. 16, the substrate 8 coated with the sealing agent is placed on the stage 9 of the liquid crystal dropping device 101, and then the liquid crystal 6a is dropped by the liquid crystal dropping device 101. . Thereafter, the substrate 8 is taken out of the liquid crystal dropping device 101 and sent to the next step. The procedures shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 are similarly applied to the other embodiments.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a state in which the liquid crystal dropping device 101 according to the present embodiment applies the liquid crystal 6a onto the substrate 8. Specifically, as the head 11 moves in the Y direction on the main surface of the substrate 8 to which the sealant is applied, liquid crystal is dropped from the respective discharge ports of the head 11 onto the main surface of the substrate 8. FIG. 5 shows a direction (Z direction) in which the liquid crystal in FIG. 2 drops.

The head 11 has a configuration as shown in FIG. The shape of the head 11 is a cylindrical shape with a hollow inside. A plurality of discharge ports 70 are formed in advance in a line in the X direction on the surface of the head 11 that faces the main surface of the substrate 8 so as to penetrate into the hollow inside. It is assumed that the length of the row extending in the X direction is equal to or longer than the width in the X direction of the dripping planned region of the main surface of the substrate 8 or longer than the width. An interval width DT (hereinafter referred to as a pitch DT), which is a distance between a certain discharge port 70 and an adjacent discharge port 70 in the row, is constant, for example, 2 to 3 mm. Here, it is assumed that the pitch DT indicates a minimum interval width of liquid crystal 6a (droplet) dropping position required for liquid crystal panel production. An electronic shutter 71 is individually provided on the outer peripheral surface of the head 11 to open and close the discharge ports 70 corresponding to the discharge ports 70 arranged in a row. As shown in FIG. 4, each discharge port 70 is freely opened and closed by a corresponding shutter 71. Here, when the liquid crystal is dropped, the liquid inside the hollow of the head 11 is filled, so that the liquid crystal can be dropped when the discharge port 70 is in the open state, and when the discharge port 70 is in the closed state. The liquid crystal is not dripped.

Here, the head may be a columnar shape, and in each embodiment, it is shown as a columnar shape for the sake of simplicity.

The structure and operation of the shutter 71 will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, for simplicity of explanation, three discharge ports 70 arranged in a row among the discharge ports 70 arranged in a row in FIG. 3 are illustrated as an example. It can be similarly applied to all of the discharge ports 70 arranged in a row.

FIGS. 6A and 7A show the shutter structure, taking as an example three consecutive ejection openings 70 of the ejection openings 70 arranged in a row in FIG. It is. 6B and 7B are cross-sectional views of the shutter structure of FIGS. 6A and 7A cut along a plane including the X axis and the Z axis of FIG. It is shown. The shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70 includes a plate 712 that can cover the discharge port 70 and a frame 711 for slidingly moving the plate 712 along the outer peripheral surface of the head 11. 6A shows a state in which all the discharge ports 70 are closed by being covered with the plate 712 of the corresponding shutter 71 (referred to as a shutter ON state). In FIG. 7A, two of the three outlets 70 are open without being covered by the corresponding plate 712 (referred to as a shutter OFF state).

FIG. 8 shows the cross-sectional structure of the shutter 71 shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B in detail. In FIG. 8, the plate 712 has an electrode 713 for sliding movement on the surface opposite to the discharge port 70, and a frame 711 is for sliding the plate 712, and the electrode 713 of the plate 712 An electrode 713 is provided on the opposite surface. A predetermined voltage is applied to the electrode 713 provided on the plate 712 and the electrode 713 provided on the frame 711, and these are electromagnetized. The plate 712 slides along the frame 711 by the repulsive force of the magnet. A specific finish will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to FIG. 9, a cross section of an electronic shutter 71 is schematically shown and a driving circuit for the shutter is shown. In the shutter 71, a voltage signal line for supplying a voltage signal from the drive circuit 100 is connected to each electrode corresponding to the electrode 713 arranged in parallel with the stator corresponding to the frame 711. Since the stator corresponds to the frame 711, it is hereinafter referred to as a stator 711. A four-phase voltage signal is applied to these voltage signal lines. Therefore, a voltage signal having the same phase is applied to the electrode 713 every four voltage signal lines. In FIG. 9, voltage signals are distinguished from each other by attaching A, B, C, and D to the electrodes 713 arranged in a row of the stator 711.

Permanently

polarized derivatives

5a and 5b (corresponding to the electrode 713) are attached to the movable element corresponding to the plate 712 on the surface facing the stator 711. Since the movable element corresponds to the plate 712, the movable element is hereinafter referred to as a movable element 712.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram only, and the actual number and arrangement interval of electrodes and derivatives depend on various factors such as the size of the shutter 71, the opening area of the discharge port 70, and the resolution required for driving the shutter 71. It is determined as appropriate.

9 shows the configuration of the drive circuit 100 for generating a voltage signal to be applied to the shutter 71 together with the configuration of the shutter 71 described above. The rectangular wave voltage signal (drive pulse signal) generated by the pulse generation circuit 12 is supplied to the phase shifter 13 and the booster circuit 14. In the booster circuit 14, the input rectangular wave voltage signal is boosted to a predetermined voltage and branched into two rectangular wave voltage signals. Each of the two rectangular wave voltage signals has two polarities. One of the output rectangular wave voltage signals is supplied to the drive electrode 4A, and the other is supplied to the drive electrode 4C. On the other hand, the rectangular wave voltage signal input to the phase shifter 13 is converted to a waveform delayed by 90 ° by the phase shifter 13 and then output to the booster circuit 14. The booster circuit 14 processes the input rectangular wave voltage signal in the same manner as described above. As a result, two voltage signals are output from the booster circuit 14. Each voltage signal has two polarities. One of the output rectangular wave voltage signals is supplied to the drive electrode 4A, and the other is supplied to the drive electrode 4C.

10A to 10C are timing charts of voltage signals applied from the drive circuit 100 to the drive electrodes 4A to 4D. Since a voltage signal of a rectangular wave train is applied to each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D, the voltage application state of each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D changes to four states shown at times t1 to t4. The drive circuit 100 operates such that such a change in state is repeated as time passes.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the shutter 71. In (A) to (D) of FIG. 11, the right side direction in the figure is the traveling direction of the moving element 712. The mover 712 has a positive (plus) derivative 5a on the rear side (left side in the figure) in the traveling direction, and a negative (minus) derivative 5b on the front side (right side in the figure).

11A shows the state (polarity) of the applied voltage between the derivative and the drive electrode immediately after the voltage application state of each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D becomes the state at time t1 in FIG. In this state, the positive electrode derivative 5a receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4A (positive electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4B (negative electrode). At the same time, the negative electrode derivative 5b receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4C (negative electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4D (positive electrode). Accordingly, the moving element 712 receives a force in the right direction toward (A) in FIG. 11 and moves to the right by one pitch d. The pitch d refers to the distance between adjacent drive electrodes.

FIG. 11B shows the state (polarity) of the applied voltage between the derivative and the drive electrode immediately after the voltage application state of each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D is switched from the state at time t1 to the state at time t2 in FIG. ). In this state, the derivative 5a receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4B (positive electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4C (negative electrode). At the same time, the derivative 5b receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4D (negative electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4A (positive electrode). For this reason, the moving element 712 receives a force in the right direction toward (B) in FIG. 11 and moves by one pitch d.

Similarly, FIG. 11C shows the voltage state of the derivative and the drive electrode immediately after the voltage application state of each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D is switched from the state at time t2 to the state at time t3 in FIG. Polarity). In this state, the derivative 5a receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4C (positive electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4D (negative electrode). At the same time, the derivative 5b receives a repulsive force from yet another drive electrode 4A (negative electrode) and receives a suction force from the drive electrode 4B (positive electrode). For this reason, the movable element 712 receives a force in the right direction toward (C) in FIG. 11 and moves by one pitch d. Further, FIG. 11D shows the voltage state (polarity) of the derivative and the drive electrode immediately after the voltage application state of each of the drive electrodes 4A to 4D is switched from the state at time t3 to the state at time t4. . In this state, the derivative 5a receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4D (positive electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4A (negative electrode). At the same time, the derivative 5b receives a repulsive force from the drive electrode 4B (negative electrode) and receives an attractive force from the drive electrode 4C (positive electrode). Therefore, the mover 712 receives a force in the right direction toward (D) in FIG. 11 and moves by one pitch d.

As described above, the moving element 712 moves in one direction (the direction of arrow F in FIG. 11D) by repeating the movement of moving by one pitch d. In order to move the mover 712 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow F, the polarity of the voltage applied to the drive electrode can be switched so as to be opposite to the polarity shown in FIGS. It ’s fine.

Since the moving element 712 of the shutter 71 can be moved in units of pitch d in this way, the amount of movement of the moving element 712 for opening and closing the opening according to the diameter (size) of the opening of the discharge port 70 is determined in units of pitch d. Can be controlled.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration of a shutter control unit 67 to be described later in association with the drive circuit 100. The shutter control unit 67 includes an ON / OFF signal generation unit 671 and a timing controller 672. The timing controller 672 has output terminals O1 to O3 connected to the driving circuit 100 of the shutter 71 corresponding to each of the ejection ports 70 shown in FIG. The timing controller 672 receives the signal output from the ON / OFF signal generation unit 671, and outputs the input signal to each drive circuit 100 from the output terminals O1 to O3. The ON / OFF signal generator 671 generates and outputs a signal for ON / OFF control of each shutter 71.

FIGS. 13A and 13B schematically show a mechanism for supplying liquid crystal to the head 11. In FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, illustration of the discharge port 70 and the shutter 71 formed in the head 11 is omitted in order to simplify the description.

A mechanism for discharging a predetermined amount of liquid crystal from each discharge port 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B. The head 11 is connected to a liquid crystal supply device 22 storing liquid crystal by a hollow liquid crystal supply pipe 23. One end of the liquid crystal supply pipe 23 extends into the hollow interior of the head 11, and the other end extends into the liquid crystal tank of the liquid crystal supply device 22. The supply of liquid crystal to the liquid crystal supply pipe 23 is basically realized by pressurizing the inside of the liquid crystal tank of the liquid crystal supply device 22 with gas. The liquid crystal surface in the liquid crystal tank rises by being pressurized using gas, and as a result, the liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal supply tube 23 and the hollow interior of the head 11. Therefore, although it fills with the liquid crystal to the vicinity of the discharge port 70, in the state which does not dripping a liquid crystal, it is not dripped from the opening part of the discharge port 70 by surface tension.

In order to drop a predetermined amount of liquid crystal from the discharge port 70 in an open state by the shutter 71, a cylinder 24 and a piston 25 moving in the cylinder 24 are connected in the middle of the liquid crystal supply pipe 23. A controller 26 is connected to the piston 25. The controller 26 is a stepping motor, and a piston 25 is connected to the shaft of the stepping motor. When the instruction signal 39 is given, the stepping motor rotates in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle based on the instruction signal 39, and then rotates in the reverse direction by a predetermined angle. In conjunction with the rotation, the piston 25 moves to the position retracted from the position of FIG. 13B (FIG. 13A). As a result, liquid crystal accumulates in the cylinder 24. Thereafter, the piston 25 moves from the position of FIG. 13A to the original position (FIG. 13B). Thereby, the liquid crystal accumulated in the cylinder 24 is pushed out to the discharge port 70 side through the liquid crystal supply pipe 23 and the head 11. As a result, only a predetermined amount of liquid crystal accumulated in the cylinder 24 is dropped from the open discharge port 70 via the liquid crystal supply pipe 23 and the head 11. By repeating such an operation, the liquid crystal is continuously dropped from the discharge port 70 in the open state.

The amount of liquid crystal per drop is determined depending on the amount of movement of the piston 25 for one reciprocation. Accordingly, the instruction signal 39 for determining the movement amount of the piston 25 can be used to control the liquid crystal dropping amount to be a predetermined amount.

Referring to FIG. 14, the functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. The liquid crystal dropping device 101 includes a storage unit 60 corresponding to the memory 53, an image processing unit 61 that processes image data captured and output by the camera 4, an instruction input unit 62 corresponding to the input unit 54, and a main surface of the substrate 8. A position detection unit 63 for detecting the position of the head 11, a discharge signal generation unit 65 for generating and outputting an instruction signal 39 for discharging liquid crystal from each discharge port 70, and a column 42 (head 11) in the Y direction. A movement signal generation unit 66 that generates and outputs an instruction signal 38 for movement and a shutter control unit 67 that generates and outputs an instruction signal 40 for ON / OFF control of the shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70 are provided. .

The image processing unit 61 inputs image data output from the camera 4. The camera 4 photographs the substrate 8 in a state where the substrate 8 is placed on the stage 9. The image processing unit 61 performs predetermined processing such as noise removal on the input image data, and then temporarily stores the image data in the storage unit 60.

The position detection unit 63 has a coordinate detection unit 64. The position detection unit 63 reads out the image data captured by the camera 4 from the storage unit 60, and detects the current relative position of the head 11 (column 42) with respect to the substrate 8 based on the read-out image data. Here, it is assumed that the image of the image data is defined by a coordinate plane defined by the coordinate axes in the XY directions. Specifically, the coordinate detection unit 64 detects the mark 8A from the image data, detects the coordinate position of the detected mark 8A, and stores the detected coordinate position in the storage unit 60 as the substrate coordinate data 60A. The position detection unit 63 detects the current coordinate position of the column 42 and stores the detected coordinate position in the storage unit 60 as head position data 60B. Specifically, the current coordinate position of the column 42 is detected based on the relative distance in the XY direction between the image of the column 42 detected from the image data and the mark 8A and the substrate coordinate data 60A read from the storage unit 60. To do.

The discharge signal generation unit 65 generates an instruction signal 39 for discharging liquid crystal from each discharge port 70, and outputs the generated instruction signal 392. The discharge signal generator 65 monitors the instruction signal 38. When the discharge signal generation unit 65 detects that the column 42 has started moving based on the instruction signal 38, the discharge signal generation unit 65 starts outputting the instruction signal 39 in synchronization with a predetermined liquid crystal discharge start timing. When the stop of the movement of the column 42 is detected based on the instruction signal 38, the output of the instruction signal 39 is stopped.

The movement signal generator 66 generates an instruction signal 38 for moving the column 42 (head 11) in the Y direction and outputs the instruction signal 38 to the head moving motor 661. The rotation axis of the head moving motor 661 is connected to the column 42, and the column 42 moves in conjunction with the rotation of the head moving motor 661. Since the instruction signal 38 indicates the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the head moving motor 661, the movement direction and the movement amount (movement amount per unit time, that is, movement speed) of the column 42 (head 11) are determined by the instruction signal 38. Can be controlled. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the moving direction corresponds to the Y direction and the moving speed is a predetermined speed.

The shutter control unit 67 generates the instruction signal 40 and supplies it to the drive circuit 100 corresponding to each discharge port 70. A procedure for generating the instruction signal 40 will be described.

The storage unit 60 stores in advance a plurality of types of data PD for controlling ON / OFF of the shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70. Each of the data PD includes a pattern name PN for uniquely identifying the data and pattern data PA for ON / OFF control of the shutter. The pattern data PA is data for determining whether the shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70 is in an ON state or an OFF state. The pattern data PA includes identification information of output terminals (corresponding to the output terminals O1 to O3 in FIG. 12) to which the corresponding drive circuit 100 is connected in association with each corresponding drive circuit 100, and ON or OFF instruction data. . Here, the pattern name PN uniquely designates a liquid crystal dropping pattern (such as a dropping interval width in the X direction) in the liquid crystal dropping region of the substrate 8. Therefore, the pattern data PA instructs ON / OFF of each shutter 71 according to the pattern name PN (that is, the liquid crystal dropping pattern).

The ON / OFF signal generator 671 generates and outputs a corresponding instruction signal 40 to each drive circuit 100 based on the pattern data PA. The generated instruction signal 40 includes identification information of an output terminal to which the drive circuit 100 is connected and ON / OFF instruction data. When the instruction signal 40 is input, the timing controller 672 outputs the instruction signal via an output terminal indicated by the identification information of the input instruction signal 40. Thereby, the instruction signal 40 is given to the drive circuit 100 of each shutter 71 individually. The drive circuit 100 generates a signal (see (A) to (D) in FIG. 10) based on the supplied instruction signal 40, and outputs the generated signal. Accordingly, the movable element (plate) 712 of the corresponding shutter 71 moves to a position where the discharge port 70 is closed when the instruction signal indicates “ON” and stops, and when the instruction signal indicates “OFF”, it opens. Move to the position where it will be in the state and stop. As a result, the opening / closing state of each ejection port 70 of the head 11 is controlled according to the pattern data PA.

Referring to FIG. 17, the operation of liquid crystal dropping apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. A program according to the flowchart of FIG. 17 is stored in the memory 53 in advance. The processing is realized by the CPU 51 reading the program from the memory 53 and executing the instruction code of the read program. It is assumed that the substrate 8 is placed on the stage 9 prior to the liquid crystal dropping. It is assumed that the head 11 (column 42) is placed at a predetermined position at the start of dropping in XY coordinates corresponding to the main surface of the substrate 8 on the stage 9.

First, the operator gives an instruction to start liquid crystal dropping to the liquid crystal dropping apparatus 101 via the input unit 54. When a liquid crystal dripping start instruction is input, the CPU 51 instructs the camera 4 to take an image. In response to the input of the imaging instruction, the camera 4 images the substrate 8 placed on the stage 9 and outputs image data obtained by the imaging to the image processing unit 61 (step S3). The image processing unit 61 temporarily stores the image data in the storage unit 60 after predetermined processing (step S5).

Subsequently, the CPU 51 instructs the position detection unit 63 to detect the position. In response to the position detection instruction, the position detection unit 63 reads out image data from the storage unit 60 and gives it to the coordinate detection unit 64. The coordinate detection unit 64 detects the position of the mark 8A on the substrate 8 based on the image data, and stores the substrate coordinate data 60A indicating the detection result in the storage unit 60 (step S7).

Subsequently, the CPU 51 receives pattern designation data input by the operator via the instruction input unit 62 (step S9). The pattern designation data includes an identifier of data PD corresponding to a dropping condition (such as a dropping interval width) according to the standard of a liquid crystal panel to be manufactured using the substrate 8.

The pattern designation data received by the instruction input unit 62 is given to the shutter control unit 67. The shutter control unit 67 searches the data PD in the storage unit 60 based on the identifier of the input pattern designation data (step S11). Based on the search result, the data PD having the pattern name PN that matches the identifier is read from the storage unit 60. Then, the ON / OFF signal generator 671 generates the instruction signal 40 based on the read pattern data PA of the data PD. The generated instruction signal 40 is output to the drive circuit 100 corresponding to each discharge port 70 via each output terminal of the timing controller 672. Thus, the state (open or closed) of each discharge port 70 is set by the shutter 71 so as to follow the dropping pattern of the liquid crystal 6A designated by the operator (step S13).

Subsequently, the CPU 51 instructs the movement signal generation unit 66 to start moving the head 11. The movement signal generation unit 66 generates an instruction signal 38 when an instruction is input, and outputs the generated instruction signal 38 to the head moving motor 661. Since the head moving motor 661 operates according to the instruction signal 38, the head 11 starts moving according to the direction and speed indicated by the instruction signal 38 in conjunction with the operation (step S15).

Subsequently, while the head 11 moves, the position of the column 42 (head 11) on the substrate 8 is detected (step S19). Specifically, imaging in the direction of the substrate 8 is repeatedly performed by the camera 4 under the control of the CPU 51, and image data is output to the image processing unit 61 for each imaging. Each time image data is input from the camera 4, the image processing unit 61 performs predetermined processing on the input image data and stores the processed image data in the storage unit 60. Each time the camera 4 captures an image, the position detection unit 63 reads image data (image data output by the imaging) from the storage unit 60, and the image of the column 42 (head 11) is obtained from the read image data by pattern matching or the like. Is detected. Then, the position of the column 42 (head 11) is detected based on the distance between the detected image and the image of the mark 8A and the coordinate value indicated by the substrate coordinate data 60A read from the storage unit 60. The detected position is stored in the storage unit 60 as head position data 60B.

When the column 42 (head 11) moves, it is determined whether or not the liquid crystal 6a should be dropped (step S21). Specifically, the position detection unit 63 determines whether or not the head position data 60B indicates a predetermined position where the dropping of the liquid crystal 6a should be terminated. If the head position data 60B indicates a predetermined position, that is, if it is determined that the dropping should be ended (YES in step S21), the series of processes ends. If the head position data 60B does not indicate a predetermined position, that is, if it is determined that the dropping should not be terminated (NO in step S21), the process returns to step S19. Thereafter, liquid crystal dropping is continuously performed while the column 42 (head 11) is moved.

According to the present embodiment, one head 11 is provided with a plurality of ejection openings 70 and a shutter 71 that opens and closes each ejection opening 70, and is controlled to open and close each ejection opening 70 according to the pattern data PA. To do. Thereby, the pitch DT between the discharge ports 70 in the open state and the number of discharge ports 70 in the open state can be variably controlled using the pattern data PA.

As a result, the number of movements of the head 11 (column 42) in the Y direction can be completed only once, and the tact time can be shortened. Further, the liquid crystal dropping pitch can be changed without replacing the head 11 (column 42). Further, an optimal dropping pitch can be selected according to the liquid crystal material, the screen size of the liquid crystal panel, or the structure and characteristics of the substrate 8 onto which the liquid crystal is dropped. In addition, since a high degree of freedom can be obtained regarding the selection of the amount of liquid crystal to be dropped, as in the above case, the optimum dropping is performed according to the liquid crystal material, the screen size of the liquid crystal panel, or the structure and characteristics of the substrate on which the liquid crystal is dropped The amount can be selected. A desired liquid crystal panel can be easily manufactured by these synergistic effects.

(Embodiment 2)
As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, the liquid crystal dropping device 102 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of heads 11 shown in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal supply device 22 and the liquid crystal supply pipe 23 to be supplied to each head from now on are independent for each head. Here, for example, assume that the plurality of heads are a plurality of heads obtained by dividing the head 11 shown in the first embodiment into a plurality of heads in the direction in which the rows of the discharge ports 70 extend. Can do.

The liquid crystal dropping device 102 according to the present embodiment is integrally provided with three

heads

11A, 11B, and 11C corresponding to the head 11 shown in the first embodiment in the column 42. The

heads

11A, 11B, and 11C simultaneously move in the Y direction as the column 42 moves in the Y direction. Here, three heads 11A to 11C are shown, but the number of heads is not limited to three, and may be two, or four or more.

The liquid crystal display panel generally uses different liquid crystal materials depending on various conditions such as emphasis on display response speed, emphasis on contrast, emphasis on cost, emphasis on panel size, and the like. In the present embodiment, different types of liquid crystal 6a can be dropped on one substrate 8 according to the allocation of the panel surface by filling the heads 11A to 11C with different types of liquid crystal materials. it can. In this way, the liquid crystal material filled in each of the heads 11A to 11C can be made different or the same depending on the conditions of the common panel. FIG. 19 shows a state in which different types of liquid crystals 6a are discharged from the heads 11A to 11C.

In the present embodiment, the size of the discharge port 70 may be different for each of the heads 11A to 11C. Different sizes of the discharge ports 70 and different types of liquid crystal materials to be filled may be implemented in combination or one of them may be implemented for each head.

(Embodiment 3)
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the liquid crystal dropping device 103 according to the third embodiment includes a head 111 instead of the head 11 of the first embodiment. The head 111 has a hollow column shape, and its longitudinal direction coincides with the X direction. On the side surface of the head 111 extending in the X direction, a plurality of rows of ejection ports extending in the X direction are formed. A plurality of discharge ports are arranged in each row. In the present embodiment, for example, four columns are formed, but the number of columns is not limited to four. The rows extending in the X direction are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval on the side surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the head 111.

FIG. 21 shows a cross section when the head 111 attached to the column 42 of FIG. 20 is cut along a plane including the Y axis and the Z axis. As shown in the figure, along the circumferential surface of the head 111, four discharge ports 70 having different sizes (diameters of the discharge ports 70) are formed at predetermined intervals (approximately 90 ° intervals). In FIG. 21, codes A to D are assigned to the four discharge ports 70 for distinction. The head 111 rotates by a predetermined angle unit corresponding to a predetermined interval in conjunction with the rotation of a head rotating motor 681 (see FIG. 26) provided in association with the column 42. Thereby, the discharge ports 70 having different sizes according to the rotation angle can be made to face the main surface of the substrate 8. That is, the head 111 changes the size of the discharge port opposed to the main surface of the substrate 8 by rotating around the central axis extending in the X direction of the column shape according to an angle corresponding to the predetermined interval width. Here, when the head 111 is a cylinder, the cut surface when the head 111 is cut along a plane including the Y axis and the Z axis is a circle. Therefore, the axis passing through the center of the circle in the X direction is the center axis. Point to. When the head 111 is not a cylinder, it similarly refers to an axis passing through the center of the inscribed circle or circumscribed circle of the cut surface in the X direction.

In FIG. 21, four discharge ports “A” to “D” are formed in the head 111 as the discharge ports 70. It is assumed that the diameters of the four discharge ports 70 have a relationship of discharge port “A”> discharge port “B”> discharge port “C”> discharge port “D”. When the head 111 shown in FIG. 21 is rotated by a predetermined angle and the discharge port “A” having the maximum size faces the main surface of the substrate 8 as shown in FIG. 22 (see FIG. 22A). The liquid crystal 6a dropped from the discharge port “A” in the direction of the arrow becomes the maximum amount (see FIG. 22B). Further, when the head 111 is rotated by a predetermined angle and the discharge port “B” is opposed to the main surface of the substrate 8 instead of the discharge port “A” (see FIG. 23A), the discharge port The amount of liquid crystal 6a dropped from “B” in the direction of the arrow decreases compared to that in FIG. 22B (see FIG. 23B). Further, when the head 111 is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the discharge port “C” faces the main surface of the substrate 8 (see FIG. 24A), the head 111 is dropped from the discharge port “C” in the direction of the arrow. The amount of the liquid crystal 6a to be further reduced (see FIG. 24B). Further, when the discharge port 70 that rotates the head 111 by a predetermined angle and opposes the main surface of the substrate 8 is the discharge port “D” of the minimum size (see FIG. 25A), the discharge port “D”. The amount of the liquid crystal 6a dripped in the direction of the arrow is minimized (see FIG. 25B).

The size of the discharge port 70 may be switched depending on, for example, the type (viscosity) of the liquid crystal material to be dropped, or may be switched depending on the lot of the liquid crystal material.

In the present embodiment, the mechanism of the shutter 71 described in the first embodiment is provided corresponding to each of the ejection ports 70 provided in the head 111. The liquid crystal supply tube 231 that supplies liquid crystal to the head 111 from the liquid crystal supply device 22 is formed of a flexible hollow tube such as a resin straw. As a result, even if the head 111 rotates, the liquid crystal can be supplied into the head 111 by the flexibility (the property having a deflection) of the liquid crystal supply tube 231.

FIG. 26 shows a functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping device 103 according to the present embodiment. The difference from the functional configuration shown in the first embodiment is that a rotation control unit 68 for rotating the head 111 and a head rotation motor 681 in which the head 111 is connected to a rotation shaft for rotating the head 111. And storing data PD1 instead of data PD.

The head rotating motor 681 rotates by a direction and an angle according to the instruction signal 41 given from the rotation control unit 68. By the instruction signal 41, the rotation direction and rotation angle (rotation amount) of the head 111 connected to the rotation shaft of the head rotation motor 681 are determined, and the size of the discharge port 70 facing the main surface of the substrate 8 is switched. Can do.

In the storage unit 60, data PD1 is stored instead of the data PD shown in the first embodiment. The data PD1 includes a pattern name PN, shutter ON / OFF pattern data PA1, and discharge port size data PB in association with each other. The discharge port size data PB indicates a row of discharge ports 70 having a size to be opposed to the main surface of the substrate 8 among the four discharge ports having different sizes shown in FIG. The pattern data PA1 turns on / off the shutters 71 of the discharge ports 70 in the row of the discharge ports 70 of the size indicated by the corresponding discharge port size data PB, and the discharge ports 70 in the other rows are fully closed ( (Shutter ON state).

Based on the pattern data PA1 of the data PD1 read from the storage unit 60 based on the pattern designation data given from the instruction input unit 62, the shutter control unit 67 turns on / off the shutter 71 of the discharge port 70 indicated by the data. Is output to the drive circuit 100 of each shutter 71. As a result, the discharge ports 70 in the row of the discharge ports 70 of the size indicated by the discharge port size data PB are opened / closed, and the discharge ports 70 in the other rows are fully closed.

The discharge port size data PB is data indicating the rotation amount from the initial rotation position (home position) of the head 111. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the head rotation motor 681 returns to the home position at the start of the liquid crystal dropping or when the liquid crystal dropping is finished on the substrate 8. The rotation control unit 68 generates an instruction signal 41 based on the discharge port size data PB of the read data PD1, and outputs the generated instruction signal 41. Thus, at the start of liquid crystal dropping, the head rotation motor 681 is rotated by the instruction signal 41 in accordance with the discharge port size data PB, so that the row of the discharge ports 70 having the size indicated by the discharge port size data PB is displayed on the substrate 8. It can be made to oppose on the main surface.

FIG. 27 shows a processing flowchart according to the present embodiment. The processing flowchart of FIG. 27 differs from the processing flowchart of FIG. 17 in that the size of the ejection port 70 of the head 111 is controlled by the step S13a between the steps S13 and S15 of FIG. The rotation processing of the head 111 using the instruction signal 41 is added. Other processes in FIG. 27 are the same as those shown in FIG. 17, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 27, each time liquid crystal dropping is started, the head 111 is rotated so that the row of ejection ports 70 having a size designated by the operator faces the main surface of the substrate 8. Thereby, the liquid crystal 6 a can be dropped onto the main surface of the substrate 8 from the row of the discharge ports 70 having the designated size.

As for the diameter (size) of the discharge port 70, it is required that an optimum diameter can be selected depending on the size and specification of the panel to be removed from the substrate 8. According to the present embodiment, the substrate 8 Therefore, it is possible to select the discharge port 70 having a diameter corresponding to the specification of the panel to be jointly taken. Specifically, when the specifications such as the size of the panel to be shared and the cell gap are the same, the amount of liquid crystal discharged is the same, and thus the liquid crystal dropped when the liquid crystal is dropped from the discharge port 70 having a large diameter. Since the amount can be increased, the dropping pitch can be increased. That is, the movement speed (movement amount per unit time) of the column 42 can be increased, and the tact time can be shortened.

On the other hand, when the liquid crystal is dropped through the discharge port 70 having a small diameter, the dropping pitch becomes small, so that the moving speed of the column 42 becomes slow and the tact time becomes relatively long. Since it is necessary to uniformly drop the liquid crystal on the panel surface, it is possible to obtain the feature that even when the dropping amount per drop is small and the dropping pitch is small, the variation in dropping becomes inconspicuous.

(Embodiment 4)
The fourth embodiment shows a modification of the head 111 of the third embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, liquid crystal dropping apparatus 104 according to the present embodiment is provided with

heads

111A, 111B, and 111C integrally in column 42. Each of the heads 111A to 111C corresponds to the head 111 of the third embodiment. A liquid crystal supply device 22 is provided corresponding to each of the heads 111A to 111C. A corresponding liquid crystal supply device 22 is connected to each head via a flexible liquid crystal supply tube 231.

In this embodiment, like the head 111, each of the

heads

111A, 111B, and 111C is rotated so that the size of the discharge port 70 facing the main surface of the substrate 8 can be varied (see FIG. 29). FIG. 29 shows a state in which the amount of liquid crystal 6a dropped from each of the heads 111A to 111C is different.

In this embodiment, the types of liquid crystal materials supplied to the

heads

111A, 111B, and 111C may be the same or different. As a result, the type of liquid crystal material to be dropped and the size of the discharge port 70 to which the liquid crystal is dropped can be made different for each head, and the types of liquid crystal panels to be shared from the substrate 8 can be varied.

In the present embodiment, the number of heads is three, but may be two or four or more.

FIG. 30 shows a functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping device 104 according to the present embodiment. The difference from the functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping device 103 according to the third embodiment is that a rotation control unit 6811 is provided instead of the rotation control unit 68, and a rotation corresponding to each head is provided instead of the head rotation motor 681. And the storage unit 60 stores data PD2 in place of the data PD1.

The data PD2 includes a pattern name PN, pattern data PA2 indicating the ON / OFF pattern of the shutter 71 corresponding to each head, and data PB1 indicating the size of the ejection port corresponding to each head.

FIG. 31 shows a process flowchart according to the fourth embodiment. 27 differs from the processing flowchart of FIG. 31 in that the processing of steps S13 and S13a of FIG. 27 is performed on the main surface of the substrate 80 and processing step S13b for controlling ON / OFF of the shutter of each head. This is in place of step S13c in which the size of the ejection port 70 to be opposed is controlled for each head. The other processes in FIG. 31 are the same as those shown in FIG. 27, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In operation, according to the corresponding pattern data PA2, each head sets the ejection ports 70 in the row facing the main surface of the substrate 8 to the open state or the closed state, and all the ejection ports 70 in the other rows are fully closed. (Step S13b). Then, the rotation control unit 6811 generates the instruction signal 41 according to the data PB1 indicated by the data PD2 read from the storage unit 60, and outputs the generated instruction signal 41 to the rotation motor 6812 corresponding to each head. Thus, the rotation motor 6812 corresponding to each head rotates based on the instruction signal 41 provided. In association with this rotation, the corresponding head rotates. As a result, the row of ejection openings 70 having the size indicated by the data PB1 of each head faces the main surface of the substrate 8.

In FIGS. 27 and 30, the ejection port size control is executed following the shutter ON / OFF control, but the execution order is not limited to this. For example, after all the shutters 71 are turned on (all the ejection ports 70 are fully closed), the size of the ejection ports is controlled by rotating the head, and then the substrate 8 is controlled according to the corresponding pattern data PA2. You may make it control opening / closing of the ejection opening 70 of the row | line | column facing a main surface.

According to the present embodiment, the drop amount or drop pitch of one drop on the main surface of one substrate 8 can be varied, and the liquid crystal material to be dropped as shown in the second embodiment can be used. Since it can be made different for each head, the same effect as in the second and third embodiments can be obtained.

(Embodiment 5)
In the present embodiment, the ejection opening 70 of the head 11 when assuming that the liquid crystal dropping device 101 of the first embodiment is used to produce a plurality of types of panels from a single substrate 8. The opening / closing control will be described.

As shown in FIG. 32, when a plurality of panels 8b of the same size are taken together from a single substrate 8, it is necessary to provide a certain space in the Y and X directions around each panel 8b for cutting out. There is. The liquid crystal should not be dripped into this space.

Regarding the space extending in the Y direction, only the discharge ports 70 corresponding to the space among all the discharge ports 70 of the head 11 in the upper part of FIG. 32 are closed by the shutter 71 according to the pattern data PA. Regarding the space extending in the X direction, the ejection signal generation unit 65 compares the head position data 60B read from the storage unit 60 with the position data of the space in the X direction given in advance. If it is determined that the current head position data 60B indicates the space position based on the comparison result, the output of the instruction signal 39 is temporarily stopped.

Thus, the liquid crystal is dropped on the panel 8b without moving the liquid crystal in the space extending in each of the X and Y directions by merely moving the head 11 once in the Y direction (reciprocal movement is not necessary). Can do.

On the other hand, in the case where the panel 8b is taken together as shown in FIG. 32 while the conventional head having a single discharge port is moved, as shown in FIG. It is necessary to reciprocate a plurality of times in the Y and X directions. Therefore, the tact time is longer than that in the present embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 34 shows a case where the size of the panel 8b to be shared using the head 11 of the first embodiment is different. FIG. 35A and FIG. 35B show an example of head movement when the size of the panel 8b to be co-taken by the conventional liquid crystal dropping device is different from that in FIG.

FIG. 34 shows two heads 11 for explanation. Of the two heads 11, the upper head 11 is set to open / close the discharge port 70 according to the pattern A, and the lower head 11 is set to open / close the discharge port 70 according to the pattern B.

In operation, the liquid crystal is dropped while moving the pattern 11 head 11 in order to drop the liquid crystal on the large panel 8b. As a result, the liquid crystal is dropped with a relatively large drop interval of the liquid crystal in the Y direction. Thereafter, when the head 11 reaches the position of the small-sized panel 8b, the opening / closing pattern of the ejection openings 70 of the head 11 is changed to the pattern B, and the head 11 is moved in the Y direction. After changing to pattern B, the number of discharge ports through which liquid crystal is dropped (in an open state) increases. Thereby, the dropping interval of the liquid crystal can be varied according to the type of panel to be shared. Therefore, the change of the dropping interval is completed only by moving the head 11 once in the Y direction without the conventional reciprocation of the head multiple times (see FIGS. 35A and 35B).

FIG. 36 shows a functional configuration of the liquid crystal dropping device according to the fifth embodiment. 36 is different from the functional configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 14 in that the shutter control unit 67 has a switching unit 673 and the data PD stored in the storage unit 60. The data PD3 is replaced. The data PD3 includes pattern designation data P1 associated with each of the pattern name PN, a plurality of types of position data D1 in the Y direction, and the position data D1. The pattern instruction data P1 is a kind of pointer data indicating the pattern data PA3 stored in advance in the storage unit 60. The pattern data PA3 is data for setting the state (ON / OFF) of the shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70.

Data PD3 will be described with reference to FIG. When it is detected that the position of the head 11 indicates the coordinates of the range Y1 in the Y direction, the pattern instruction data P1 of the position data D1 corresponding to the coordinates of the range Y1 is read. Then, the shutter 71 of each discharge port 70 is controlled to open and close in accordance with the pattern data PA3 instructed by the read pattern instruction data P1. Thereafter, when it is detected that the head 11 passes the coordinates of the range Y1 and the position of the head 11 indicates the coordinates of the range Y2, the switching unit 673 reads the pattern instruction data P1 corresponding to the next position data D1. . Then, according to the pattern data PA3 instructed by the read pattern instruction data P1, the ejection ports 70 of the head 11 are controlled to open and close. Thereby, the state (open or closed) of each discharge port 70 can be switched according to the range in which the head 11 moves (region on the main surface of the substrate 8). As a result, even when a complicated co-printing pattern as shown in FIG. 34 is designated, it is possible to produce a liquid crystal panel according to the designated co-printing pattern only by moving the head 11 once in the Y direction. Become.

FIG. 37 shows a processing flowchart according to the fifth embodiment. The processes in steps S3 to S15 are the same as those in the first embodiment. When the head 11 starts to move (step S15), the position detection unit 63 sequentially detects the position of the head 11. Each time a position is detected, the detected position is stored in the storage unit 60 as head position data 60B (step S25). Therefore, the head position data 60B indicates the current position of the head 11.

The switching unit 673 of the shutter control unit 67 detects (determines) whether or not to switch the pattern PA3 to be referred to (step S27). Specifically, the head position data 60B read from the storage unit 60 is compared with each of the position data D1 indicated by the data PD3 read from the storage unit 60. If it is determined that the head position data 60B indicates the next position data D1 based on the comparison result, it is determined that the pattern should be switched based on the determination result (YES in step S27). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S29. If it is determined that the head position data 60B does not indicate the next position data D1, it is determined that the pattern is not switched based on the determination result (NO in step S27). And it is detected whether it is completion | finish of dripping similarly to step S21 (step S33). The dropping process is continued according to the detection result.

In step S29, the switching unit 673 reads the pattern instruction data P1 indicated by the next position data D1 from the storage unit 60. Pattern data PA3 pointed to by the read pattern instruction data P1 is read from the storage unit 60. In accordance with the read pattern data PA3, the shutter control unit 67 generates an instruction signal 40 and outputs the generated instruction signal 40 to the drive circuit 100 corresponding to each ejection port 70. Thereby, the state (open or closed) of each discharge port 70 is switched (step S31). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S25, and the dropping process is continued.

According to the present embodiment, only a single movement of the head 11 in the Y direction (reciprocal movement is unnecessary) allows multiple types of panels with different liquid crystal dropping pitches to be taken from one substrate 8 (see FIG. 34). Reference).

The feature of the head 11 according to the fifth embodiment is that the head shown in the second embodiment is prepared by preparing the pattern instruction data P1 and the pattern data PA3 for each head and detecting the position for each head. The same applies to the heads 11A to 11B, the head 111 shown in the third embodiment, and the heads 111A to 111C shown in the fourth embodiment.

According to each of the above-described embodiments, the total number of discharge ports 70 capable of dropping liquid crystal can be switched by opening and closing each of the discharge ports 70 arranged in a line on the head by the shutter 71. In this configuration, it is not necessary to provide a pressure chamber corresponding to the discharge port in the head separated by a partition as compared with a configuration in which the discharge port capable of dropping liquid crystal is switched by pressure control using a piezoelectric element. Further, it is not necessary to connect a liquid crystal supply pipe for each pressurizing chamber. As a result, the tact time (production time) can be shortened as described above while simplifying the internal structure of the head.

In each embodiment, the width of the plate 712 (moving element 712) of the shutter 71 corresponding to each discharge port 70 (this width corresponds to at least the diameter of the discharge port 70) should be ensured. Can be made sufficiently small. On the other hand, when a piezoelectric element is used, the pressurizing chamber needs to have a size that can store liquid crystal and can obtain a pressurizing effect by the piezoelectric element. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reduce the interval width of the discharge ports due to the limitation of the size of the pressurizing chamber.

Thus, the above-described embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

4 cameras, 5 computers, 8 substrates, 8A marks, 10 stands, 11 heads, 22 liquid crystal supply devices, 23,231 liquid crystal supply tubes, 42 columns, 60 storage units, 63 position detection units, 65 discharge signal generation units, 66 movements Signal generation unit, 67,671 shutter control unit, 68,6811 rotation control unit, 70 discharge port, 71 shutter, 101,102,103,104 liquid crystal dropping device, 673 switching unit, 711 frame, 712 plate.

Claims

A head (11) having a hollow columnar shape inside, and a row formed by arranging a plurality of discharge ports (70) for dropping the liquid crystal filled in the hollow onto the substrate; ,
A moving part (42) for moving the head;
A discharge controller for discharging the liquid crystal from each discharge port onto the substrate (8) in accordance with the movement of the head by the moving unit;
A plurality of opening / closing portions (71) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the head corresponding to the respective discharge ports and for opening and closing the corresponding discharge ports;
An open / close control unit for controlling the plurality of open / close units,
The row extends in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the head, and the interval width of the ejection ports in the row is equal to or less than the minimum width of the drop interval indicated by the liquid crystal drop pattern,
Each of the plurality of opening / closing parts includes a plate (712),
The opening / closing control unit opens and closes the discharge port by electronically sliding the plate of each opening / closing unit on the discharge port corresponding to the opening / closing unit according to pattern data corresponding to the liquid crystal dropping pattern. A liquid crystal dropping device.
2. The liquid crystal dropping device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rows are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head at a predetermined interval width, and the size of the discharge port is different for each row.
3. The liquid crystal dropping device according to claim 2, wherein the head rotates around a central axis extending in the predetermined direction of the column shape according to an angle corresponding to the predetermined interval width.
A position detection unit that detects a position of the head on the substrate when the head is moved by the moving unit;
A plurality of types of position data on the substrate, and a storage unit that stores the different pattern data corresponding to each of the plurality of types of position data,
The opening / closing control unit switches the pattern data for opening / closing control by reading the corresponding pattern data from the storage unit based on the position of the head detected by the position detection unit. 4. The liquid crystal dropping device according to any one of items 1 to 3.
The head includes a plurality of divided heads divided in the predetermined direction in which the row extends,
The liquid crystal dropping device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal material filled in the hollow is different for each of the plurality of divided heads.
6. The liquid crystal according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the rows are formed at a predetermined interval width on the outer peripheral surface of each of the plurality of divided heads, and the size of the ejection port is different for each row. Dripping device.
The liquid crystal dropping device according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of divided heads rotates around an axis corresponding to the predetermined interval width around a central axis extending in the predetermined direction of the columnar shape.
A position detection unit (63) for detecting a position of each of the plurality of divided heads on the substrate when the plurality of divided heads are moved by the moving unit;
A plurality of types of position data on the substrate, and a storage unit (60) for storing the different pattern data corresponding to each of the plurality of types of position data,
The opening / closing control unit switches the pattern data for opening / closing control by reading the corresponding pattern data from the storage unit based on the positions of the plurality of divided heads detected by the position detecting unit. A liquid crystal dropping device according to any one of claims 5 to 7.
A head (11) having a hollow columnar shape inside, and a row in which a plurality of discharge ports (70) are arranged on the outer peripheral surface for dropping the liquid crystal filled in the hollow onto the substrate. The liquid crystal dropping method used,
Opening and closing each outlet in the row on the outer peripheral surface of the head;
Discharging the liquid crystal from each discharge port onto the substrate according to the movement of the head, and
The row extends in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the head, and the interval width of the ejection ports in the row is equal to or less than the minimum width of the drop interval indicated by the liquid crystal drop pattern,
In the opening and closing step, according to the opening / closing pattern data corresponding to the liquid crystal dropping pattern, the plate (712) provided corresponding to each discharge port is electronically slid on the corresponding discharge port, A liquid crystal dropping method in which the discharge port is opened and closed.