JP2003091011A - Nozzle head, liquid crystal discharge device and method for producing liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a characteristic as a liquid crystal display panel simultaneously with productivity by eliminating change in a liquid crystal dropping amount with respect to a TFT baseboard with a peripheral seal. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal discharge device is provided with a means for allowing liquid crystal in a tank to flow out, a means for pushing-out the flowing-out liquid crystal, a means for feeding the pushed-out liquid crystal and a nozzle head for discharging the fed liquid crystal. The nozzle head includes a needle nozzle for discharging the liquid crystal. The needle nozzle has a flange shape projection on an outer surface near its end.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a needle nozzle in a liquid crystal ejecting device used when a liquid material, particularly a liquid crystal, is dripped onto a substrate. The present invention relates to a needle nozzle, a liquid crystal discharge device, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel, which simultaneously improve productivity.

In a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display panel in which liquid is a liquid crystal, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal is dropped on a region surrounded by a peripheral seal on a TFT substrate, and then CF (color filter) is passed through the peripheral seal. The substrate may be attached and fixed to the TFT substrate. In the dropping step of the liquid crystal in this case, for example, in the case of a 15-inch size liquid crystal display panel, 5 mg is dropped on each of 48 locations evenly arranged so that the total dropping amount of the liquid crystal is about 240 mg. It is necessary to match the total amount of liquid crystal drops to a preset value, but it is difficult to achieve matching between the two, and as a result, the thickness of the cell may fluctuate or air bubbles may be mixed due to excessive or insufficient drops. Therefore, it is strongly demanded to deal with such a situation because the display characteristics are adversely affected.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display panel, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a liquid crystal dropping device for realizing the liquid crystal dropping means of FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the liquid crystal discharge device in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the liquid crystal supply unit casing of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the guide key of FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the plunger of FIG. 10, FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the liquid crystal discharge unit casing of FIG. 10, and FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the nozzle head of FIG.
FIG. 16 is a view for explaining an assembly means for the liquid crystal discharge device, FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a liquid crystal dropping state in the conventional liquid crystal ejecting device, and FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining problems in the conventional liquid crystal ejecting device.

In FIG. 8A for illustrating the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel assembling jig A has an upper mold A ₁ for fixing the CF substrate 1 ″ to the lower surface by means such as vacuum suction. The liquid crystal dropped TFT substrate 1c is composed of a lower mold A ₂ which is placed at a position corresponding to the CF substrate, and the upper mold A
₁ and lower mold A ₂ with the above CF substrate 1 ″ and liquid crystal dropped TFT
Each substrate region can be evacuated when the substrates are closely attached via the substrate 1c.

A liquid crystal dropped TFT mounted on the lower mold A ₂
The substrate 1c is a peripheral seal 1a, which is made of ultraviolet curable resin and has a rectangular shape in plan view, around the upper surface of the TFT substrate 1'shown in (b).
After forming a first TFT substrate 1b with a peripheral seal attached by (C), a liquid crystal dropping device 2 that moves relative to the first TFT substrate with a peripheral seal is used. As illustrated, a predetermined amount of the liquid crystal 1d is applied to each of a plurality of uniformly arranged areas in the area surrounded by the peripheral seal 1a, and the state shown in (d) is obtained.

Therefore, as shown in (e), the area of each substrate is, for example, with the upper mold A ₁ and the lower mold A ₂ in close contact with each other.
After evacuating to about 1 × 10 ^-3 Torr and opening the upper mold A ₁ and the lower mold A _{2 as} shown in (f), the CF substrate presses the TFT substrate through the peripheral seal at atmospheric pressure. Therefore, both can be bonded. Next, with the upper mold A ₁ removed (g), the light source B located above the CF substrate side.
By irradiating the peripheral seal with ultraviolet rays from the above, the required liquid crystal display panel 1 in which the liquid crystal (liquid crystal) 1d is sealed between the CF substrate and the TFT substrate is obtained as shown in (H). .

FIG. 9 for explaining the liquid crystal dropping device of FIG.
(A) is an overall perspective view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a side view. In the figure, the liquid crystal dropping device 2 is an XY for moving the TFT substrate with a peripheral seal 1b described in FIG. 8 in the XY direction.
A main body 21 having a stage, a liquid crystal ejecting device 3 attached to the main body 21, an operation of the main body 21, and a liquid crystal ejecting device 3
And a control unit 22 for controlling the operation of.

The main body 21 has a base 211 fixed to a base (not shown), a first dovetail member 212 fixed to the base 211 with a dovetail 212a in the X direction, and substantially the same as the dovetail member 212. A second dovetail member 21 having a dovetail groove 213a fitted to the above dovetail 212a on one surface and having a dovetail groove 213b in the Y direction on the other surface in a plan view size.
3 and has a dovetail 214a that fits in the dovetail groove 213b on one surface and is approximately the same size as the dovetail member 213, and the other surface is formed on the substrate placing surface 214b on which the peripheral seal TFT substrate 1b is placed. Third dovetail member 214
And the second dovetail member 213 and the first dovetail member 212.
And a second pulse motor 216 that reciprocates the third dovetail member 214 with respect to the second dovetail member 213. .

The first pulse motor 215 and the second pulse motor 215
The dovetail members 213 are locked by fitting a ball screw 215a directly connected to the shaft of the first pulse motor and an unillustrated female screw 213b provided on an internally threaded plate 213c fixed to the second dovetail member 213. Further, between the second pulse motor 216 and the third dovetail member 214, a ball screw 216a directly connected to the shaft of the second pulse motor and a third screw member 216 are provided.
The female screw plate 214b fixed to the dovetail member 214 is locked by fitting with the female screw 214c.

Then, the first and second pulse motors 2
Signals 215 and 216 are connected to the control unit 22 by respective signal lines 215b and 216a, and the signals from the control unit can freely move and stop the substrate mounting surface 214 'in the XY directions. . Further, the base 211 is provided with a stay 211a that is bent in an L shape so that its tip is located substantially at the center of the first dovetail member 212, and in the tip region, a rectangular guide hole is formed as shown in the drawing. 211b is provided for mounting the liquid crystal ejection device.

The liquid crystal ejecting device 3 in this case is equipped with a pulse motor 312 and first and second electromagnetic valves 315 and 322, and the signal line 3a connected to each of them is connected to the control unit 22 as described later. It is connected. Therefore, the liquid crystal ejecting device 3 is inserted into the guide hole 211b as indicated by an arrow.
Is mounted on the substrate mounting surface 214b, and by extension, the TFT substrate with peripheral seal 1 mounted on the substrate mounting surface 214b.
c can be moved in the XY direction with respect to the liquid crystal ejecting device 3 or stopped at arbitrary positions, and a required amount of liquid crystal can be ejected from the liquid crystal ejecting device 3 at each stop position. There is.

10A and 10B are views for explaining the liquid crystal discharge device, wherein FIG. 10A is a plan view, FIG. 10B is a side sectional view, FIG. 10C is a left front view, and FIG. 10D is an arrow a in FIG. Sectional view at ~ a,
(E) is a bottom view and (f) is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows bb in (b). In the figure, the liquid crystal ejecting device 3 is composed of a liquid crystal supplying section 31 and a liquid crystal ejecting section 32. The liquid crystal supplying section 31 is a liquid crystal supplying section housing 311 and a pulse motor 312 fixed to the housing as a drive source. And a guide key 3 fixed to the housing
13, a pusher 314 attached to the casing, and a first electromagnetic valve 315, and the liquid crystal discharge unit 32 includes a liquid crystal discharge / drip casing 321, a second electromagnetic valve 322 attached to the casing, and a nozzle. And a head 323.

Here, in order to facilitate understanding, details of the above-mentioned members will be described first with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15. 11A and 11B for explaining the liquid crystal supply unit casing, FIG. 11A is a plan view, FIG. 11B is a side sectional view, and FIG. 11C is a side view taken along arrows a to a. Is. A liquid crystal supply unit housing 311 having a rectangular block shape in a plan view has a liquid crystal tank region and a liquid crystal push-out region arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction thereof. It has a concave step surface 311a for fitting.

The liquid crystal tank 31 is located in the liquid crystal tank area.
1b is provided with an outflow hole 311c penetrating to the lower side, and a valve accommodating hole 311d for the first electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the outflow hole is provided in the middle of the outflow hole with the side surface as an opening. A motor housing hole 311e for the pulse motor 312, a pusher insertion hole 311f having a diameter reduced from that, and a pusher guide hole 311g further reduced in diameter from the insertion hole are sequentially formed in the liquid crystal extrusion region from the upper surface side. The outflow hole 311c and the pusher guide hole 311g are connected by a recessed groove 311h provided on the lower surface 311j of the liquid crystal supply unit housing 311.

In the region of the pusher insertion hole 311f, key fixing holes 311k penetrating both side walls are provided at two positions on the line corresponding to the center line of the hole. The concave step portion 311m provided around the opening side of the liquid crystal tank 311b is for a lid plate, and a lid is attached as necessary. On the other hand, the pulse motor 312 is formed by directly connecting a ball screw having a predetermined pitch to the shaft of an ordinary pulse motor.

In FIG. 12, the guide key 313 has a pusher insertion hole 311 on one side of the liquid crystal supply unit casing 311 on one side.
A curved surface 313a corresponding to the peripheral wall surface of f and the other surface is a flat surface 313.
The plate-shaped member b has a maximum thickness "t" which is smaller than a peripheral wall step amount "t '" between the pusher insertion hole 311f and the pusher guide hole 311g in the liquid crystal supply unit casing and a length "l". “” Is set so as not to exceed the length “l ′” of the pusher insertion hole 311f, and a female screw 313c is provided at a position corresponding to the key fixing hole 311k on the center line along the length direction. Out.

Therefore, the guide key 313 is attached to the curved surface 31.
3a is inserted into the pusher insertion hole so that it comes into contact with the peripheral wall surface of the pusher insertion hole 311f, and then corresponds to the female screw of the guide key from the outside of the key fixing hole provided in the pusher insertion hole region of the liquid crystal supply unit casing. By using the screw 319, the guide key 313 can be fixed at a position facing the inner wall surface of the pusher insertion hole.

Referring to FIG. 13 for explaining the plunger,
(A) is an overall perspective view, (b) is a side view, (c) is (b).
FIG. 3D is a side sectional view orthogonal to, and FIG.
In the figure, the plunger 314, which serves as a means for pushing out the liquid crystal flowing out from the liquid crystal tank at a predetermined time, has a T-shaped cross section having a flange 314b at one end of the shaft portion 314a, and the diameter "d ₁ " of the shaft portion 314a is The liquid crystal supply unit casing 311
Is formed so as to fit into the pusher guide hole 311g, and the flange 314b is formed to have a diameter "d ₂ " corresponding to the pusher insertion hole of the liquid crystal supply unit casing. A female screw 314c that fits into the ball screw 312 is formed up to the vicinity of the tip of the shaft portion with the flange side as an opening.

The flange is provided with a flat guide surface 314b 'which is produced when the flange is cut with a predetermined center symmetry width "d ₃ " that exceeds the diameter of the shaft portion. d ₃ ″ is set so as to correspond to the distance between the flat surfaces 313 b facing each other when the two guide keys 313 are fixed in the pusher insertion hole 311 f of the liquid crystal supply unit casing.

Furthermore, the first electromagnetic valve 315, which is installed in the middle of the outflow hole 311c in the liquid crystal supply unit housing 311, as an intermittent outflow means of the liquid crystal in the tank, has the outflow hole 311c in the liquid crystal supply unit housing 311. It is mounted in a valve accommodating hole 311d provided in the middle so that the liquid crystal passing through the outflow hole can be intermittently interrupted by a signal from the outside.

Further, in FIG. 14 for explaining the liquid crystal discharge unit casing,
(A) is a plan view, (b) is a side sectional view, (c) is a left front view, (d) is a sectional view taken along arrows a to a, and (e) is a bottom view. In the figure, the liquid crystal ejecting unit housing 321 mounted on the lower surface side of the liquid crystal supplying unit housing 311 has a concave step on the lower surface of the liquid crystal supplying unit housing in the region of the upper surface 321a that is in close contact with the lower surface of the liquid crystal supplying unit housing. An upper piece portion 321c having a peripheral wall 321b fitted to the surface 311a, and a rectangular protrusion 321d which is located in a region corresponding to the pusher guide hole 311g of the liquid crystal supply unit casing on the rear surface thereof and which protrudes downward are provided. It has an integrated shape.

The rectangular protrusion 321d is formed on the base 2
A female screw 321 is formed in a size corresponding to the guide hole 211b provided at the tip of the stay 211a of No. 11 and has a lower surface to which a nozzle head 323 described later is screwed and fixed.
e is provided, and the rectangular protrusion is formed into the guide hole 21.
The stay 211a is inserted into the 1b from above.
As a result, it is positioned and fixed on the base 211.

Further, the liquid crystal discharge unit housing 321 has a liquid passage extending from the upper surface 321a to the female screw 321e at a position corresponding to the pusher guide hole 311g when fitted to the liquid crystal supply unit housing. 321f is formed,
In addition, a valve accommodating hole 321g for a second electromagnetic valve that electromagnetically opens and closes the liquid passage 321f is provided in the middle region of the liquid passage 321f with the side surface of the rectangular protrusion as an opening.

On the opening side of the valve accommodating hole 321g, the side surface of the rectangular projecting portion from the valve accommodating hole and the upper piece 32 are formed.
A recessed groove 321h reaching the outer surface of the upper piece 321c through the bottom surface of 1c is formed for accommodating the signal line. Further, the second electromagnetic valve 322, which is mounted in the valve housing hole 321g as the intermittent liquid crystal delivery means, is mounted in the valve housing hole 321g provided in the middle of the liquid passage 321f of the liquid crystal discharge part housing 321. The liquid crystal passing through the liquid path can be intermittently interrupted by a signal from the outside.

Further, in FIG. 15 for explaining the nozzle head,
(A) is a side sectional view and (b) is a bottom view. In the figure, the metallic nozzle head 323 is formed by forming a straight nozzle 323b together with a root reinforcing portion 323b 'on the lower surface side of a screw portion 323a corresponding to the female screw 321e in the liquid crystal discharge housing 321. The diameter of the nozzle hole 323c penetrating the shaft has a predetermined value set in advance.

In the nozzle head 323 in this case, the diameter of the nozzle 323b is 1.5 m in order to correspond to the 15-inch size liquid crystal display panel as described above.
m, and the diameter of the nozzle hole 323c is set to 0.4 mm. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the first electromagnetic valve 31 is inserted into the valve housing hole 311d of the liquid crystal supply unit casing 311.
5 as shown by the arrow a, then the two guide keys 313 are inserted into the pusher insertion holes 311f of the casing as shown by the arrow b, and the guide keys are fixed by the screws 319 passing through the holes 311k. The plunger 314 is inserted as indicated by arrow c so that the guide surface 314b 'of the flange corresponds to the flat surface 313b of the guide key 313, and the pulse motor 312 is attached to its ball screw so as to fit into the female screw 314b of the plunger. First, the liquid crystal supply unit 31 is constructed by mounting and fixing it in the motor housing hole 311e as shown by the arrow d while rotating. At this point, the plunger 314 is moved up and down by rotating the pulse motor 312 forward and backward within a predetermined angle. You can

Next, the second electromagnetic valve 322 is attached and fixed in the valve accommodating hole 321g of the liquid crystal discharge unit housing 321 as shown by the arrow e, and further the female screw 3 of the liquid crystal discharge unit housing is attached.
The nozzle head 323 is screwed and fixed to 21e as shown by an arrow f to form the liquid crystal discharge part 32. Therefore, the liquid crystal supply unit 3
1 and the liquid crystal discharge part 32 are integrated by fitting the stepped surface of the recess and the peripheral wall, and then the signal line 322a of the second electromagnetic valve is laid in the recessed groove 321h, and then the first valve. 31
5 is closed, liquid crystal 1d is injected into the liquid crystal tank 311b, and the opening of the liquid crystal tank is closed by a lid plate 318 or the like having a size corresponding to the concave step surface 311m provided in the opening. The required liquid crystal discharge device 3 can be configured as shown in FIG.

Further, the rectangular protrusion 3 of the liquid crystal discharge device 3
After mounting 21d in the guide hole 211b of the stay 211a, the signal line 312a connected to the pulse motor 312 of the liquid crystal dropping device and the first and second electromagnetic valves 315 and
By connecting each of the signal lines 315a and 322a of 322 to the control unit 22 as the signal line 3a, the required liquid crystal dropping device 2 can be configured as shown in FIG.

In the liquid crystal dropping device 2, the diameter of the nozzle hole 323c in the liquid crystal ejecting device 3 is 0.4 mm so that a required amount of liquid crystal dropping amount of 5 mg can be obtained when the pulse motor 312 is normally rotated at a rotation angle of 90 °. In addition to setting the ball screw pitch of the pulse motor, the first electromagnetic valve 315 is closed and the second electromagnetic valve 322 is opened when the pulse motor is rotated normally, that is, when the liquid crystal is dropped by pressing the plunger 314. When the pulse motor is rotated in the reverse direction, that is, when liquid crystal is supplied into the nozzle by pushing up the plunger 314, the control unit 22 controls the first electromagnetic valve to be opened and the second electromagnetic valve to be closed. We are trying to realize reliable liquid crystal dropping.

In FIG. 17, the relationship between the operation of the liquid crystal 1d in the conventional liquid crystal ejecting device 3 as a device and the liquid crystal dropping position indicated by “Δ” on the tip of the nozzle and the TFT substrate with peripheral seal 1b is shown. It will be explained in chronological order including it. That is, at the time of (1) showing the state before liquid crystal dropping, the pulse motor 312 is stopped and the first electromagnetic valve 3 is
In the liquid crystal supply state in which 15 is “open” and the second electromagnetic valve 322 is “closed”, the nozzle 323b is arranged at a predetermined position indicated by “Δ” on the TFT substrate with peripheral seal 1b.

Then, when the pulse motor is normally rotated by a signal from the control unit 22, the first electromagnetic valve 315 is "closed",
The second electromagnetic valve 322 is in the "open" liquid crystal discharge state, and at the same time, the plunger 314 is lowered by a certain distance, so that the liquid crystal 1d 'in the nozzle is at a predetermined amount, that is, 48 described above.
Since it is pushed out by the amount of the drop, it drops as liquid crystal 1d _-1 as shown in (3) after the discharge state of (2), but the pulse motor stops (at this point, the first electromagnetic valve is "open", the second electromagnetic valve is open). After the valve is in the "closed" liquid crystal supply state), the liquid crystal 1d 'in the nozzle overflows as shown by 1d "in (4) due to the residual pressure in the nozzle, then becomes spherical due to surface tension and adheres to the nozzle tip surface. The state of (5) is reached.

By moving the peripheral-seal TFT substrate 1b by a predetermined distance and reversing the pulse motor in response to a signal from the control unit 22, the first electromagnetic valve is "opened" and the second electromagnetic valve is opened. After the liquid crystal is supplied to the nozzle by "closed" and the state of (6) is reached, after that, (7)
That is, a liquid crystal dropping device capable of dropping a predetermined amount of liquid crystal can be constructed by repeating a predetermined liquid crystal discharge operation from the spherical state of (5).

However, the liquid crystal overflowing from the nozzle due to the residual pressure in the nozzle has an outer diameter "a" like liquid crystal 1d _-2 shown in (8).
Is larger than the nozzle outer diameter “b”, the nozzle itself is made of metal and the contact angle relating to the surface tension of the liquid is small, so that the liquid crystal 1d ₋₂ is formed on the outer surface of the tip of the nozzle 323b as shown in (9). The liquid crystal adheres to the liquid crystal 1d _-3 . Then, within a small amount of the liquid crystal 1d _-3 attached to the outer surface of the nozzle tip, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal is pushed out by the forward rotation of the pulse motor.
Since the discharge is performed as in (10), it is possible to achieve a nearly constant drop amount, but as the number of discharges increases, the amount of adhesion tends to increase due to the creeping up to the nozzle tip outer surface as shown in d _-4 of (11). As a result, a part of the liquid crystal 1d _-4 adhering to the outer surface of the nozzle tip is added to the predetermined amount of liquid crystal that is pushed out by the normal rotation of the pulse motor, and the dropping amount is more than the predetermined value as shown in 1d _{-5 of} (12). It becomes large, or a part of the liquid crystal 1d _-4 is 1d _{-6 of} (13).
As shown in (3), it is easy to drop due to its own weight, and as a result, it may be dropped on a place other than the predetermined position on the TFT substrate with peripheral seal 1b.

[0034]

FIG. 18 showing a problem.
Here, (a) is a diagram showing a normal state as a liquid crystal display panel, (b) is a diagram showing a first problem, and (c) is a diagram showing a second problem. In FIG. 5A, the amount of liquid crystal dropped in the space between the TFT substrate 1 ′ and the CF substrate 1 ″ through the peripheral seal 1 a is equal to the space volume, so that the TFT substrate 1 ′ and the CF substrate 1 ″ are Each is flat and the display quality is good.

However, in the case of FIG. 3B, since the liquid crystal 1d in an amount exceeding the space volume is sealed in the space area, the thickness "T ₁ " as the liquid crystal display panel is the central area and the peripheral thickness. There is a problem in that the display quality may be reduced as a result of partial changes such as thicker than “T ₂ ”. Further, in the case of FIG. 6C, since the liquid crystal 1d in an amount less than the space volume is sealed in the space area, the thickness of the liquid crystal display panel is thin in the central portion, contrary to the case of FIG. There is a problem that the liquid crystal non-existing region 1e is generated in the space region when each substrate is flat, and as a result, the display quality may be deteriorated in any case.

[0036]

The above problems are solved by a nozzle head having a needle nozzle for ejecting liquid crystal, wherein the needle nozzle has a flange-shaped convex portion on the outer surface near the tip. It Further, it has an inflowing means for liquid crystal in the tank, a pushing out means for the outflowing liquid crystal, a delivering means for the pushing out liquid crystal, and a nozzle head for ejecting the delivering liquid crystal, and the nozzle head has a flange-shaped projection on the outer surface near the tip. It is solved by a liquid crystal discharge device which is a nozzle head having a section.

Also, the first TF having a peripheral seal is formed.
A liquid crystal display panel including at least a step of dropping liquid crystal into a seal-enclosed region of a T substrate and a step of bonding a second substrate to the above-mentioned TFT substrate in which a liquid crystal is dropped in a predetermined reduced pressure atmosphere and returning to atmospheric pressure. Which is solved by the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel using the above liquid crystal discharge device in the step of dropping the liquid crystal.

When a convex portion or a concave portion is provided on the outer surface near the tip of the nozzle, the convex portion or the concave portion can prevent the liquid crystal from creeping up to the outer surface of the nozzle. If the nozzle head is made of a material having a contact angle related to the surface tension of the liquid crystal that is larger than that of the material of the nozzle head, the effect of preventing the liquid crystal from creeping up to the outer surface of the nozzle can be made larger than that of metal.

Therefore, in the present invention, a collar-shaped convex portion is provided on the outer surface in the vicinity of the nozzle tip or a ring-shaped concave portion is provided on the nozzle tip surface in the conventional liquid crystal discharge device to form a liquid crystal dropping device, and the conventional liquid crystal is also used. A liquid crystal ejection device is configured by coating an exposed surface outside the nozzle head of the ejection device with a resin having a larger contact angle than the material of the nozzle head, that is, metal.

This means that the amount of liquid crystal adhered to the outer surface in the vicinity of the nozzle tip can be made constant because the rising of the liquid crystal to the outer surface in the vicinity of the nozzle tip is restricted by the above-mentioned projections and depressions and the resin coating. Means that. Therefore, even if the dropping operation of the liquid crystal is repeated, it is possible to always obtain a stable fixed amount of the liquid crystal and improve the productivity of the liquid crystal display panel.

[0041]

1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a liquid crystal discharge device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a nozzle head in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a liquid crystal discharge device in the liquid crystal discharge device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first application example of the nozzle head in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second application example of the nozzle head in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a liquid crystal discharge state in the liquid crystal dropping device, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a third application example of the nozzle head in FIG.

In each of the drawings, the case where the present invention is applied to the conventional liquid crystal dropping device and liquid crystal ejecting device is taken as an example, and therefore, the same target members and parts as those in FIGS. 9 and 10 are designated by the same symbols. Descriptions that are the same as those described above will be omitted. FIG. 1 illustrating a liquid crystal discharge device according to the present invention.
Here, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side sectional view, (c) is a left front view, (d) is a right front view partially cut away, and (e) is a bottom view.

In the figure, the liquid crystal ejecting device 5 is composed of the liquid crystal supplying section 31 described in FIG. 10 and the liquid crystal ejecting section 51 according to the present invention. In particular, the liquid crystal ejecting section 51 in this case is the liquid crystal explained in FIG. The ejection unit housing 321, the second electromagnetic valve 322 mounted on the housing, and the nozzle head 5 according to the present invention.
11 and 11. Here, the nozzle head will be described first with reference to FIG. 2, and FIG.
(B) is a side sectional view and (c) is a bottom view.

That is, in the figure, the nozzle head 511 made of metal is shown.
The nozzle 511c, which is straight and is provided with a flange-shaped convex portion 511b outside the vicinity of the tip, is formed on the lower surface side of the screw portion 511a corresponding to the female screw 321e of the liquid crystal discharge part housing 321 together with the root reinforcing portion 511c '. The nozzle hole 511d penetrating on the central axis thereof is set to have the same diameter as the nozzle hole 323c in the nozzle head 323, and the diameter of the nozzle 511c is set to the nozzle 323b.
It is set according to the diameter of.

Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 16, the nozzle head 511 is connected to the female screw 32 of the liquid crystal discharge unit housing 321.
1e and the second electromagnetic valve 322.
1 is installed in the valve housing hole 321g of the liquid crystal ejecting unit casing to form the liquid crystal ejecting unit 51, and then the liquid crystal ejecting unit 51 is combined with the liquid crystal supplying unit 31 to obtain the required liquid crystal ejecting device 5 as shown in FIG. Can be configured as shown in.

Therefore, thereafter, the liquid crystal ejecting apparatus 5 is replaced with the liquid crystal ejecting apparatus 3 in FIG. 9 and mounted in the guide hole 211b of the stay 211a, so that the TF with the peripheral seal is attached.
A liquid crystal dropping device corresponding to the T substrate 1b can be configured similarly to the liquid crystal dropping device 2. In FIG. 3, the dropping state of the liquid crystal 1d in the liquid crystal ejecting device 5 will be described in chronological order as in FIG. 17, including the relationship with the liquid crystal dropping position indicated by “Δ” on the substrate 1b.

17A shows the state (4) in FIG. 17, in which the liquid crystal 1 in the nozzle after the pulse motor 312 is stopped after the liquid crystal is dropped at the tip of the nozzle 511b.
"While in the state which has overflowed as indicated by, the overflowing liquid crystal 1d 'd' is 1d by residual pressure in the nozzle is attached to the nozzle tip surface and spherical surface of as S ₁ of (b) by its surface tension To do.

Then, as described above, the liquid crystal 1d is supplied to the nozzle by the movement of the substrate 1b and the reverse rotation of the pulse motor, and then the normal rotation of the pulse motor drops the liquid crystal 1d as shown in (c). outer diameter "a _1" is larger than the outer diameter "a _2" of the nozzle 511b (8) likewise the liquid crystal 1d _-10 amount of liquid crystal 1d _-10 overflowing from the nozzle 511b is increased 17 to ( In the state of (2), since the contact angle of the liquid crystal with respect to the nozzle is small as described above, it easily adheres to the outer surface of the nozzle as shown in the figure.

[0049] Then it becomes the liquid crystal 1d _-10 LCD 1d _-11 was spheronized in a region up to the convex portion 511b as indicated by its surface tension (e) in this case, in this case the liquid crystal 1d _- Numeral ₁₁ is a dam by the convex portion 511b, so that the size and hence the amount are made constant. Therefore, in this state, the liquid crystal is supplied into the nozzle as described above, and the pulse motor 312 is further supplied.
When the liquid crystal 1d is dropped by the operation of (f), the liquid crystal attached to the tip of the nozzle has the same shape and size as the liquid crystal 1d _-11 of (e) as shown by 1d _-11 'of (g),
Further, as shown in (H), the liquid crystal attached to the tip of the nozzle after dropping the liquid crystal 1d has the same shape and size as the liquid crystal 1d _-11 ′ of (G) as 1d _-11 ″ shown in (L).
By repeating the same liquid crystal dropping operation as described in 1d below, it is possible to always realize a stable constant amount of liquid crystal dropping.

Then, for example, the liquid crystal dropping between the above (a) to (d) is carried out by the above-mentioned peripheral seal TF which is a liquid crystal dropping object.
After performing the dummy substrate different from the T substrate 1b, the liquid crystal adhering to the tip of the nozzle becomes the liquid crystal 1d _-11 shown in (e) above, and the liquid crystal is dropped on the TFT substrate with the peripheral seal 1b. It is possible to realize further stabilization of the liquid crystal dropping amount by adopting the “ejecting means” or the like.

The distance "e ₁ " from the tip of the nozzle of the convex portion 511b and the height "e ₂ " from the outer surface of the nozzle are:
The diameter of the nozzle hole 511d is, for example, 0.4 mm as described above.
In this case, it has been experimentally confirmed that the required effect can be obtained by setting each of them to about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm, which is approximately close to the diameter of 0.4 mm. FIG. 4 illustrating a first application example of the nozzle head 511,
(A) is an overall perspective view, (b) is a side sectional view, and (c) is a bottom view.

In the nozzle head 521 made of metal in the figure, only the convex portion 511c of the nozzle head 511 is formed into an umbrella-shaped convex portion 521b having a taper surface 521a on the screw side, and the periphery 521b 'thereof has an acute angle. It is an edge. In the liquid crystal ejecting device in which the nozzle head 521 is replaced with the nozzle head 511 in the liquid crystal ejecting device 5, the liquid crystal attached to the flat surface 521c on the nozzle tip side of the umbrella-shaped convex portion 521b is tapered beyond the periphery 521b '. Since it does not overflow to the surface 521a side, there is an advantage that the liquid crystal dropping amount can be further stabilized as compared with the liquid crystal ejecting device 5.

5A and 5B for explaining a second application example of the nozzle head 511, FIG. 5A is an overall perspective view, FIG. 5B is a side sectional view in which the tip of the nozzle is enlarged, and FIG. . In the figure, the nozzle head 531 made of metal is the nozzle head 5 described above.
11, the convex portion 511b is removed, and the ring-shaped concave groove 53 is formed around the nozzle hole 511d in the nozzle tip surface 531a.
By providing 1b, the tip surface is made uneven.

This means that the side wall surface 5 outside the groove is
31b 'intersects the nozzle outer surface 511c "at an acute edge line 531b". FIG. 6 shows a liquid crystal dropping state in a liquid crystal ejecting apparatus in which the nozzle head 531 is replaced with the nozzle head 511 of the liquid crystal ejecting apparatus 5. 17A shows the state (1) in FIG. 17 before the initial dropping of the liquid crystal, and the nozzle hole 511d of the nozzle 531 is filled with the liquid crystal 1d '.

Therefore, when the liquid crystal 1d 'is pushed out by a predetermined amount as described above in response to the signal from the control section, as shown in FIG.
As described in (4), the liquid crystal overflowing from the nozzle hole due to the residual pressure in the nozzle enters the concave groove 531b as a liquid pool as shown in 1d _-15 shown in (B) and then its surface tension. As a result, the surface becomes spherical like S ₂ shown in (C) and becomes like liquid crystal 1d _-16 .

Then, as shown in the figure, the liquid crystal 1d- ₁₆ stored in the groove 531b has the side wall surface 531b 'outside the groove.
From the edge surface 531b ″ to the nozzle outer surface 5
11c ″ does not overflow. Therefore, the concave groove 531b
Since the liquid crystal accumulated in the liquid crystal is always kept at a constant amount, a constant amount of liquid crystal can be dropped as shown in (D).

In the liquid crystal discharge device equipped with such a nozzle head 531, the above-mentioned convex portion 511b and umbrella-shaped convex portion 521b are provided.
Since there is no nozzle, there is an advantage that the nozzle area can be downsized and the shape can be simplified to reduce the cost, and the liquid crystal dropping amount can be further stabilized as compared with the liquid crystal ejecting device 5. Note that, for example, after the liquid crystal dropping in the above (A) is performed on the dummy substrate as described above, the liquid crystal at the tip of the nozzle becomes the above liquid crystal 1d _-16 after the time (C), the TFT substrate with the peripheral seal. Similar to the case of FIG. 3, it is possible to realize further stabilization of the liquid crystal dropping amount by adopting the discarding discharge means as in 1b.

7A and 7B for explaining a third application example of the nozzle head 511, FIG. 7A is an overall perspective view, FIG. 7B is a side sectional view, and FIG. 7C is a bottom view. In the figure, the metallic nozzle head 541 is coated with a resin film (Teflon resin film of DuPont, USA) 541a having a contact angle larger than that of metal, such as fluororesin, on the entire surface of the nozzle head 511 excluding the threaded portion 511a. It was formed into a film.

The deposition of the resin film 541a can be easily realized by using a usual means such as an electrostatic coating technique. In the liquid crystal ejecting device in which the nozzle head 541 is replaced with the nozzle head 511 in the liquid crystal ejecting device 5, the liquid crystal overflowing from the nozzle adheres on the resin film 541a, but the contact angle of the resin film itself is higher than that of metal. Since the amount of liquid crystal adheres to the resin film is limited due to the large size, as a result, the liquid crystal ejection device 5
There is an advantage that the liquid crystal dropping amount can be further stabilized.

(Supplementary Note 1) A nozzle head having a needle nozzle for ejecting liquid crystal, characterized in that the needle nozzle has a flange-shaped convex portion on the outer surface near the tip. (Supplementary Note 2) The nozzle head according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the convex portion is an umbrella-shaped convex portion having the needle nozzle tip side as a flat surface.

(Supplementary Note 3) In the nozzle head according to Supplementary Note 1, the contact angle with respect to the liquid crystal is larger than that of the metal forming the nozzle head in a region including at least the tip of the needle nozzle to the convex portion of the outer surface of the needle nozzle. A nozzle head having a resin film. (Supplementary Note 4) A nozzle head, wherein the resin film according to Supplementary Note 3 is a fluororesin film.

(Supplementary Note 5) A nozzle head having a needle nozzle for ejecting liquid crystal, characterized in that the straight needle nozzle is provided with a ring-shaped concave groove around the nozzle hole on the tip end surface side. Nozzle head. (Supplementary Note 6) The nozzle head according to Supplementary Note 5 is provided with a resin film having a contact angle with respect to liquid crystal larger than that of a metal forming the nozzle head, at least in the region of the concave groove on the tip side of the needle nozzle. And the nozzle head.

(Additional remark 7) The liquid crystal in the tank has an outflow means, a means for pushing out the outflowing liquid crystal, a means for delivering the extruded liquid crystal, and a nozzle head for ejecting the delivered liquid crystal. 5. A liquid crystal ejecting device, which is the nozzle head according to any one of 1. (Supplementary Note 8) A step of dropping liquid crystal into the seal surrounding region of the first TFT substrate on which the peripheral seal is formed, and a step of bonding the second substrate to the above-mentioned TFT substrate onto which liquid crystal has been dropped in a predetermined reduced pressure atmosphere A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel, comprising at least the step of returning to atmospheric pressure, wherein the liquid crystal discharge device described in appendix 7 is used in the step of dropping the liquid crystal.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a needle nozzle and a liquid crystal agent ejecting device which eliminate the fluctuation of the liquid crystal dropping amount and simultaneously improve the characteristics and productivity of the liquid crystal display panel. Although the present invention describes the case where the liquid agent is liquid crystal, it is not limited to the liquid crystal, and it is clear that the present invention can be applied to any liquid agent by appropriately changing the nozzle hole diameter of the nozzle head. .

In the description of the present invention, the case where the resin film for increasing the contact angle as the liquid agent is adhered to the nozzle head 511 is taken as an example. However, the resin film is formed on each of the other nozzle heads 521 and 531. It is also clear that the same amount of liquid crystal dropping can be stabilized even if the nozzle head itself is formed of the same resin as the above resin film even if it is formed by deposition.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a liquid crystal ejection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a nozzle head in FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal ejection state in the liquid crystal ejection device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first application example of the nozzle head in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second application example of the nozzle head in FIG.

6 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal ejection state in the liquid crystal ejection device in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a third application example of the nozzle head in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display panel.

9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid crystal dropping device that realizes the liquid crystal dropping means in FIG.

10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid crystal ejection device in FIG.

11 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal supply unit casing of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the guide key in FIG.

13 is a view for explaining the plunger of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the liquid crystal ejection unit casing of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the nozzle head of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining an assembling means for the liquid crystal discharge device.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal dropping state in a conventional liquid crystal discharge device.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a problem in a conventional liquid crystal discharge device. Is.

[Explanation of symbols]

1d liquid crystal 1d ', 1d "liquid crystal (in nozzle hole) 1d- _{1 to} 1d- ₁₆ liquid crystal (overflow portion) 1d- ₁₁ ' liquid crystal (in nozzle hole) 1d- ₁₁ " liquid crystal (in nozzle hole) 5 liquid crystal ejection device 31 liquid crystal supply unit 51 liquid crystal discharge unit 312 pulse motor 315 first electromagnetic valve 321 liquid crystal discharge unit housing 321a square protrusion 322 second electromagnetic valve 511 nozzle head 511a screw 511b convex 511c needle nozzle 511c 'root reinforcement 511c "Nozzle outer surface 511d Nozzle hole 521 Nozzle head 521a Tapered surface 521b Umbrella projection 521b 'Surrounding 521c Flat surface 531 Nozzle head 531a Nozzle tip surface 531b Recessed groove 531b' Side wall surface 531b" Edge line 541 Nozzle head 541a Resin film

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G02F 1/13 101 G02F 1/13 101 (72) Inventor Satoshi Murata 4-1-1 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. FUJITSU LIMITED (72) Inventor Tokichi Nakayama 4-1-1 Kamiotanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture FUJITSU LIMITED (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Inoue 4-1-1, Ueodaanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Issue Fujitsu Limited F-term (reference) 2H088 FA01 FA09 FA30 MA04 MA17 2H089 NA22 NA49 NA60 QA12 QA14 4D075 AC06 AC88 AC93 DA06 DB13 DC19 EA05 4F041 AA05 AB01 BA10 BA12 BA17 BA35 4F042 AA06 AB00 BA02 CB03 CB08 CB08 CB08 CB08 CB08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle head having a needle nozzle for ejecting liquid crystal, wherein the needle nozzle has a flange-shaped convex portion on the outer surface near the tip. 2. The resin according to claim 1, wherein a contact angle with respect to liquid crystal is larger than that of a metal forming the nozzle head in a region including at least the tip end surface of the needle nozzle to the convex portion of the outer surface of the needle nozzle. A nozzle head having a film. 3. A nozzle head having a needle nozzle for ejecting liquid crystal, wherein the straight needle nozzle is provided with a ring-shaped concave groove around the nozzle hole on the tip end surface side. . 4. The in-tank liquid crystal outflow means, the outflowing liquid crystal push-out means, the extruded liquid crystal delivery means, and the nozzle head for ejecting the delivered liquid crystal, wherein the nozzle head is any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A liquid crystal ejecting device, which is the nozzle head according to any one of 1. 5. A step of dropping liquid crystal to a seal enclosing region of a first TFT substrate having a peripheral seal formed thereon, and a step of bonding a second substrate to the TFT substrate to which the liquid crystal has been dropped in a predetermined reduced pressure atmosphere. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel, the method including: at least returning to atmospheric pressure, wherein the liquid crystal discharge device according to claim 4 is used in the step of dropping the liquid crystal. Method.