JP2014014790A - A paste coating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paste coating apparatus which agitates a paste before discharging the paste from a nozzle with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A paste coating apparatus includes: a paste storage part 30 which reservoirs a glass paste applied to an element side substrate; a nozzle 31a which discharges the glass paste to the element side substrate; a conduit line 312a for circulating the glass paste from the paste storage part 30 to the nozzle 31a; and an agitation mechanism 33 which is incorporated into the conduit line 312a and agitates the glass paste circulating in the conduit line 312a. The agitation mechanism 33 is incorporated into the conduit line 312a so as to freely play.

Description

  The present invention relates to a paste coating apparatus.

  For example, in a manufacturing process of a light emitting panel such as an organic EL panel that displays an image by emitting light from an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) element, a glass substrate (element side substrate) provided with a light emitting element such as an organic EL element is used. A step of bonding a sealing glass substrate (sealing substrate) is included. In this step, a paste (glass paste) containing glass frit for fixing the sealing substrate is applied to the element side substrate by a paste application device such as a dispenser.

  As background art of this technical field, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that “a screw having an axially spiral collar on the surface of a rod-like body, a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the screw, and a screw insertion in which the screw is inserted. A main body having a liquid material supply port provided on a side surface of the installation hole and the screw insertion hole and a liquid material supply channel communicating with the liquid material supply port; and a screw insertion hole disposed in the screw insertion hole. A seal member and a nozzle that is mounted on the main body and communicates with the screw insertion hole are provided, and a liquid-proof space is formed above the liquid material supply port of the screw insertion hole, so that the seal member does not get wet. It is characterized in that the material is supplied and the screw is rotated forward and discharged from the nozzle "(see the summary).

WO2008 / 126414

When a paste-like liquid material such as glass paste is ejected from the nozzle and applied to the element-side substrate, a method may be employed in which the inside of the nozzle is pressurized and pushed out by air pressure. Such a liquid material (glass paste) contains a mixture of fine solid particles such as glass frit. When these solid particles (glass frit and the like) are collected into a lump, the fine tube portion such as a nozzle is blocked. There are things to do.
Therefore, the glass paste is required to be in a state in which the contained solid particles (glass frit and the like) are diffused.
For example, the state in which solid particles are diffused can be maintained by stirring the glass paste in a conduit that guides the glass paste to the nozzle.

For example, as described in Patent Document 1, the paste can be stirred in the pipe line by providing a rotating screw in a pipe line (liquid material supply flow path) that guides the paste to the nozzle (liquid material supply port). .
However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 requires a configuration for supporting the screw, a configuration for rotating the screw, and the like, and thus there is a problem that the structure of the apparatus for applying the liquid material becomes complicated.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the paste coating apparatus which can stir the paste before discharging from a nozzle with a simple structure.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an agitation mechanism for agitating the liquid material in a conduit through which the liquid material flows from a reservoir that stores the paste-like liquid material applied to the substrate to a nozzle that discharges the liquid material. The provided paste application device. And the said stirring mechanism has the characteristic that it is incorporated in the pipe line so that floating was possible.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the paste coating apparatus which can stir the paste before discharging from a nozzle with a simple structure can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the paste coating device which concerns on the Example of this invention. (A) is a side view of a syringe head, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a nozzle holder. It is a figure which shows an example of the element which comprises a stirring mechanism. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the arm portion showing a state in which the sealing member is removed, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the arm portion showing a state in which the stirring mechanism is inserted, and (c) is a cross-sectional view of the conduit with the sealing member. It is sectional drawing of the arm part which shows the state by which the open end was obstruct | occluded.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, an organic EL panel is taken as an example of a light-emitting panel, but the present invention can also be applied to other light-emitting panels of an organic EL panel. As other light emitting panels of the organic EL panel, there are a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like. The present invention is not limited to an organic EL panel, and can be widely applied to a light-emitting panel having a configuration in which two glass substrates are fixed by firing glass frit contained in a glass paste.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a paste coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2A is a side view of a syringe head, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a nozzle holder.
As shown in FIG. 1, the paste coating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a table 2 on which a substrate (element-side substrate 10) such as a glass substrate on which a light emitting surface 10 a is formed is placed on the table 2. A glass paste (liquid material) is applied to the placed element-side substrate 10 in a predetermined shape (application pattern).
The element side substrate 10 is, for example, an element constituting an organic EL panel, and the light emitting surface 10a is a surface on which a circuit including an organic EL element (not shown) is arranged. In a circuit including these organic EL elements, light emission of the organic EL elements is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

The table 2 is arranged on the stage 1a of the paste application device 1, and is configured to be movable in two intersecting directions on the plane that becomes the stage 1a by the moving devices 2a and 2b.
That is, the stage 1a of the paste coating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a plane on which the element side substrate 10 is placed.
The stage 1a is set with coordinate axes in which the two directions in which the table 2 moves are the X axis and Y axis, respectively, and the table 2 is moved in the direction along the X axis (X axis direction) by the moving device 2a. 2b is configured to move in the direction along the Y-axis (Y-axis direction).
The moving device 2a is provided with a sensor (position detection sensor or the like) that detects the moving distance of the table 2 in the X-axis direction, and the moving device 2b is a sensor that detects the moving distance of the table 2 in the Y-axis direction (position detection). A configuration provided with a sensor or the like is preferable.

In addition, the paste application device 1 includes a syringe head 3 that applies glass paste from above to the element-side substrate 10 placed on the table 2. The syringe head 3 is attached to a gantry 4 that is horizontally mounted above the stage 1a, and applies a glass paste toward the table 2 that moves in two directions (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) on the lower stage 1a. Configured as follows.
Although FIG. 1 shows the paste application apparatus 1 provided with one syringe head 3, the paste application apparatus 1 having two or more syringe heads 3 may be used.

In this embodiment, the table 2 is moved on the stage 1a by the moving devices 2a and 2b, and the gantry 4 to which the syringe head 3 is attached is fixed to the stage 1a.
In this configuration, when the table 2 is moved by the moving devices 2a and 2b, the element side substrate 10 and the syringe head 3 placed on the table 2 can be relatively moved.
That is, the moving devices 2a and 2b have a function of moving the element side substrate 10 and the syringe head 3 relatively.
In addition to such a configuration, the syringe head 3 and the gantry 4 may be configured to move in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Alternatively, the table 2 may move in one of the X axis direction and the Y axis direction, and the syringe head 3 (gantry 4) may move in the other of the X axis direction and the Y axis direction.
In any configuration, the syringe head 3 and the table 2 (element-side substrate 10) can be moved relatively.

The paste application device 1 is controlled by the control device 5. The control device 5 moves the table 2 appropriately by controlling the moving devices 2a and 2b. The control device 5 controls the syringe head 3 to turn on / off the application of the glass paste.
Further, the control device 5 acquires the movement distances of the table 2 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by a sensor, and controls the movement devices 2a and 2b so as to move the table 2 to an arbitrary position.

  In the paste coating apparatus 1 configured as described above, the glass paste is applied to the element side substrate 10 placed on the table 2 by the syringe head 3.

In the paste application apparatus 1, the element-side substrate 10 on which the light emitting surface 10 a is formed is transferred by the transfer means 20 in the previous step.
The shape of the element side substrate 10 (the shape of the light emitting surface 10a) is not limited to a rectangle.
For example, it may be a circular or elliptical element-side substrate 10 (light emitting surface 10a), or may be an n-sided (n is a natural number of 3 or more) element-side substrate 10.

Further, for example, the transport unit 20 may be a transport conveyor as shown in FIG. 1, but may be a transport robot or the like, and the configuration of the transport unit 20 is not limited.
As shown in FIG. 1, the element-side substrate 10 transported to the paste application device 1 by the transport means 20 is placed on the table 2 and fixed as appropriate. The configuration for fixing the element side substrate 10 to the table 2 is not limited. For example, the element side substrate 10 may be sucked and fixed from the table 2 side.
When the element-side substrate 10 is placed (fixed) on the table 2, the control device 5 controls the moving devices 2a and 2b to move the table 2, and moves the element-side substrate 10 to a predetermined application start position. The application start position is a predetermined position at which application of the glass paste by the syringe head 3 is started, and is preferably set as appropriate. Then, the control device 5 moves the table 2 while applying the glass paste from the syringe head 3, and applies the glass paste to the element side substrate 10 so as to draw a predetermined application pattern.

The paste application device 1 is preferably provided with positioning means for moving the element-side substrate 10 placed on the table 2 to a predetermined reference position.
The configuration of the positioning means is not limited. For example, the reference point (G1, G2) marked in advance on the element side substrate 10 is read by an image recognition camera or the like, and the control device 5 moves the table 2 so that the read reference points G1, G2 are at predetermined positions. What is necessary is just to be the structure to do. Thus, the position of the element side substrate 10 where the marked reference points G1 and G2 are in a predetermined position becomes the reference position of the element side substrate 10.
Further, for example, if two or more reference points G1 and G2 are marked on the element-side substrate 10 and the table 2 is configured to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the stage 1a, the control device 5 can be used for all the reference points. The table 2 can be rotated so that G1 and G2 are at predetermined positions. Accordingly, one side of the light emitting surface 10a formed in a rectangular shape can be made parallel to the coordinate axes (X axis, Y axis) set on the stage 1a.
And the control apparatus 5 can apply | coat glass paste to the circumference | surroundings of the light emission surface 10a by moving the table 2 suitably to a X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction.

The syringe head 3 is attached to the gantry 4 so as to be movable up and down. Further, a sensor (using laser light) that measures the distance between the element-side substrate 10 and the nozzle 31a (see FIG. 2B) on the syringe head 3 is used. It is also possible to adopt an arrangement in which an optical displacement meter or the like is attached.
If it is such a structure, the control apparatus 5 can measure the distance of the nozzle 31a and the element side board | substrate 10, when apply | coating glass paste. And the control apparatus 5 can maintain the nozzle 31a and the element side board | substrate 10 in a suitable distance by moving the syringe head 3 up and down.

2A is a side view of the syringe head, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the nozzle holder.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the syringe head 3 of the present embodiment is attached to one end of a paste storage unit 30 and a storage unit (paste storage unit 30) that is made of a hollow cylinder and stores glass paste. And a nozzle holder 31. Moreover, the paste storage part 30 is provided with an air pressurization part 32 at the other end with respect to one end to which the nozzle holder 31 is attached.
The paste reservoir 30 stores glass paste applied to the element-side substrate 10 (see FIG. 1), and when the interior of the paste reservoir 30 is pressurized by the air pressurizer 32, the glass paste is pasted into the paste reservoir. The nozzle 30 is pushed out from the nozzle 30 and discharged from a nozzle 31 a provided in the nozzle holder 31.
For example, the air pressurizing unit 32 may be configured to send compressed air (or nitrogen gas or the like) compressed by an air compressor (compressor) (not shown) into the paste storage unit 30.

  The syringe head 3 is attached to the gantry 4 (see FIG. 1) so that the axial direction of the paste storage unit 30 is the vertical direction and the nozzle holder 31 is downward. And the element side board | substrate 10 (FIG. 1) from which the glass paste extruded from the paste storage part 30 with the compressed air sent from the air pressurization part 32 and discharged from the nozzle 31a moves on the lower stage 1a (refer FIG. 1). Configured to be applied).

As shown in FIG. 2B, the nozzle holder 31 extends from the body portion 311 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the paste storage portion 30 and the body portion 311 connected to one end of the paste storage portion 30. And an arm portion 312.
The syringe head 3 is attached to the gantry 4 (see FIG. 1) so that the arm portion 312 is parallel to the plane forming the stage 1a (see FIG. 1).
Further, a conduit 311 a through which the glass paste flows is formed inside the body portion 311, and a conduit 312 a through which the glass paste flows is formed inside the arm portion 312. And the pipe line 311a of the trunk | drum 311 and the pipe line 312a of the arm part 312 are connected via the corner part 313a.

The pipe 312a of the arm 312 is a pipe extending in the axial direction of the arm 312 and is configured to penetrate the distal end 312b of the arm 312 (the end opposite to the body 311). . That is, the open end 312c of the pipe line 312a is formed at the distal end portion 312b. And the sealing member 31c which obstruct | occludes the open end 312c of the pipe line 312a is engage | inserted by the front-end | tip part 312b of the pipe line 312a.
The sealing member 31c is, for example, a screw member that is screwed into a female screw formed on the distal end portion 312b side (open end 312c of the pipe 312a) of the pipe 312a, and is preferably configured to be detachable.
It is preferable that a sealing member (not shown) is disposed between the sealing member 31c and the distal end portion 312b of the arm portion 312 so that the sealing member 31c and the distal end portion 312b are sealed.

A nozzle 31 a is attached to the arm portion 312. The nozzle 31a is attached in a direction in which the glass paste is discharged downward when the syringe head 3 is attached to the gantry 4 shown in FIG.
For example, when the syringe head 3 is attached so that the axial direction of the paste storage unit 30 is the vertical direction, the nozzle 31a is attached so that the axial direction is parallel to the axial direction of the paste storage unit 30 and the lower part opens. . The nozzle 31a communicates with the pipe 312a of the arm 312.

  When the syringe head 3 is configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the compressed air is fed from the air pressurizing unit 32 and the inside of the paste storing unit 30 is pressurized, the glass paste Is extruded from the paste reservoir 30 to the nozzle holder 31 and circulates through the conduit 311a of the body 311. Further, the glass paste flows through the conduit 312a of the arm 312 via the corner 313a and is discharged from the nozzle 31a.

Further, in the paste coating apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) of the present embodiment, the stirring mechanism 33 is incorporated in the pipe 312a of the arm portion 312 of the nozzle holder 31.
The stirring mechanism 33 is preferably, for example, a wing-like member having a function of turning the glass paste flowing along the pipe 312a along the circumferential direction of the inner wall 312a1 of the pipe 312a.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of elements constituting the stirring mechanism.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the stirring mechanism 33 applies a rightward turning force along the inner wall 312a1 of the pipe 312a to the glass paste Gp when viewed from the upstream side of the flow of the glass paste Gp in the pipe 312a. It is preferable that the right element 33a is a static mixer having a shape in which a plurality of right elements 33a and a left element 33b that applies a leftward turning force along the inner wall 312a1 of the pipe line 312a to the glass paste Gp are arranged in series. is there.

As shown in FIG. 3, the glass paste Gp flowing through the pipe 312a in which the stirring mechanism 33 (static mixer) is incorporated in the axial direction is swung along the circumferential direction of the inner wall 312a1 of the pipe 312a by the stirring mechanism 33. Stir. Therefore, solid particles such as glass frit contained in the glass paste Gp are kept in a diffused state and are prevented from becoming a lump.
Note that the shapes of the right element 33a and the left element 33b shown in FIG. 3 are illustrated for explaining the function of the stirring mechanism 33, and do not limit the shape of the stirring mechanism 33 (static mixer).

(A)-(c) of FIG. 4 is a figure which shows the step in which a stirring mechanism is integrated in the pipe line of an arm part.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the pipe 312a of the arm 312 passes through the tip 312b, and the open end 312c of the pipe 312a is formed at the tip 312b. Therefore, when the sealing member 31c is removed, the pipe 312a is opened on the tip 312b side.
Further, by using the sealing member 31c as a screw member, the arm member 312 can be easily detached.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the stirring mechanism 33 can easily enter the inside of the pipe line 312a from the open end 312c where the pipe line 312a is open. That is, the operator who incorporates the stirring mechanism 33 can easily insert the stirring mechanism 33 into the pipe line 312a from the open end 312c of the distal end portion 312b.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the sealing member 31c is attached to the distal end portion 312b of the arm portion 312, the open end 312c of the conduit 312a is closed, and the stirring mechanism 33 is sealed in the conduit 312a. Are incorporated into the conduit 312a.

Further, the stirring mechanism 33 is inserted from the open end 312c of the pipe 312a, and is incorporated in a state where it is not restrained by the inner wall 312a1 of the pipe 312a, other mechanisms, or structures. Thus, the stirring mechanism 33 is incorporated so as to be freely movable (movable) in the pipe 312a.
In other words, the configuration of the conduit 312a can be a simple configuration that does not require a mechanism or a structure for supporting the stirring mechanism 33.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a corner portion 313a is formed on the side of the trunk portion 311 of the conduit 312a and is curved toward the paste storage portion 30 side. Therefore, the stirring mechanism 33 in the pipe 312a of the arm 312 can move only to the position of the corner 313a, and does not move from the pipe 312a of the arm 312 to the other.
Thus, the stirring mechanism 33 is incorporated into the pipe line 312a of the arm portion 312 with an extremely easy work.

Further, in the paste coating apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) of the present embodiment, the air pressurization unit 32 (see FIG. 2 (a)) provided in the paste storage unit 30 (see FIG. 2 (a)) is a paste storage unit. 30 is pressed to extrude the glass paste Gp (see FIG. 3) and eject it from the nozzle 31a (see FIG. 2B) of the arm 312.
When the air pressurization unit 32 pressurizes the paste storage unit 30, the pipe 312a (see FIG. 2B) of the arm unit 312 is pressurized from the corner unit 313a side, and the stirring mechanism 33 (( b) is pressed against the sealing member 31c (see FIG. 2B). Thus, since the rotation of the stirring mechanism 33 is suppressed by being pressed against the sealing member 31c, the rotation of the stirring mechanism 33 when the glass paste Gp flows through the conduit 312a is suppressed, and the stirring mechanism 33 is The glass paste Gp can be effectively stirred.

As described above, the paste applying apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) of the present embodiment has the conduit 312a (see FIG. 2) through which the glass paste Gp (see FIG. 3) applied to the element side substrate 10 (see FIG. 1) flows. A stirring mechanism 33 (see FIG. 2B) such as a static mixer is incorporated in (see (b)). And it can distribute | circulate to the nozzle 31a (refer (b) of FIG. 2), stirring glass paste Gp, can be discharged from the nozzle 31a, and can be apply | coated to the element side board | substrate 10. FIG. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a state where solid particles such as glass frit contained in the glass paste Gp are diffused, and it is possible to suppress clogging of the thin tube portion such as the nozzle 31a with solid particles such as glass frit.
Furthermore, when the stirring mechanism 33 is a static mixer, a power source other than the compressed air that drives the stirring mechanism 33 is unnecessary, and the glass paste Gp can be stirred with a very simple structure.
Also, it is very easy for an operator or the like to incorporate the agitation mechanism 33 into the pipe 312a (see FIG. 2B) of the arm portion 312, and the operator or the like who manages the paste coating apparatus 1 can easily agitate. A mechanism 33 can be incorporated.

Further, the stirring mechanism 33 (see FIG. 2B, a static mixer, etc.) of the present embodiment is provided with a pipe line 312a (see FIG. 2) of the arm portion 312 extending in parallel with the stage 1a (see FIG. 1) of the paste coating apparatus 1. (See (b)).
When the paste applying apparatus 1 is installed so that the stage 1a is substantially horizontal, the arm portion 312 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and the glass paste Gp (see FIG. 3) flowing through the pipe 312a is in a substantially horizontal direction. Circulate in
Therefore, the glass paste Gp swirling along the circumferential direction of the inner wall 312a1 (see FIG. 3) of the pipe 312a is stirred up and down by the stirring mechanism 33 incorporated in the pipe 312a of the arm 312. This makes it possible to suitably stir the glass paste Gp in which the glass frit tends to agglomerate due to precipitation or the like due to the difference in density, and it is possible to favorably maintain the state in which the glass frit has diffused.

In addition, this invention is not limited to an above described Example and modification. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.
Further, a part of the configuration of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of a certain embodiment.

  For example, the stirring mechanism 33 (see FIG. 2B) is not limited to a static mixer. For example, a member formed by twisting an elongated flat plate in one direction may be used. In this case, the glass paste Gp (see FIG. 3) flowing through the pipe 312a (see FIG. 2B) of the arm portion 312 flows while turning in one direction. The effect of diffusing solid particles contained in the glass paste Gp is small as compared to the case of turning both left and right when viewed from the upstream, but the effect of diffusing the solid particles can be obtained. In addition, a cheaper member than the static mixer can be used as the stirring mechanism 33.

  Or glass paste Gp (refer FIG. 3) which distribute | circulates the pipe line 312a (refer FIG.2 (b)) of the arm part 312 is swung along the circumferential direction of inner wall 312a1 (refer FIG.2 (b)). The stirring mechanism 33 (refer FIG. 2B) of the structure by which the several wing-like member which has a function was inserted in the pipe line 312a may be sufficient.

1 Paste coating device 1a Stage (plane on which a substrate is placed)
2 Table 3 Syringe head 10 Element side substrate (substrate)
30 Paste storage part (storage part)
31a Nozzle 31c Sealing member 33 Stirring mechanism (static mixer)
312 Arm part 312a Pipe line 312a1 Inner wall 312c Open end Gp Glass paste (liquid material)

Claims (5)

A reservoir for storing a paste-like liquid material applied to the substrate;
A nozzle that discharges the liquid material toward the substrate;
A conduit through which the liquid material flows from the reservoir to the nozzle;
An agitation mechanism that agitates the liquid material that is incorporated into the conduit and flows through the conduit;
The paste applying apparatus, wherein the stirring mechanism is incorporated in the duct so as to be freely movable. The stirring mechanism is provided in a state of being inserted into the pipeline from the open end of the pipeline,
The paste applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the open end is closed with a detachable sealing member. The conduit is configured to circulate the liquid material substantially parallel to a plane on which the substrate is placed,
The paste applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring mechanism has a function of rotating the liquid material along a circumferential direction of an inner wall of the pipe line.   The paste applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring mechanism is a static mixer.   The paste applying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the stirring mechanism is a static mixer.

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