JP2004144908A - Bonding device for polarizing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bonding device for a polarizing plate, with which enlargement of a foot print in the bonding device for the polarizing plate is suppressed without lowering a product yield. <P>SOLUTION: A turning station 200 to turn a conveying direction of a liquid crystal cell substrate 1, subjected to treatment in a previous step, 90° is arranged between an entrance part on the upstream side of a conveyance line 10 and a cleaning and conveyance line 100. As a substantial construction of the turning station 200, a turning table 202 to turn the conveyed liquid crystal cell substrate 1 90° is provided. Thereby, on the conveyance line 10 of the bonding device 1000 for the polarizing plate, the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is conveyed in the direction of extension of short edges of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a polarizing plate sticking device, and more particularly to a structure of a polarizing plate sticking device capable of suppressing expansion of a footprint even when a liquid crystal cell substrate is enlarged.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional structure of a color liquid crystal display. This color liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal cell substrate 1 composed of a glass substrate having a liquid crystal, an alignment film, a transparent electrode, a color filter, etc. interposed therebetween, and front and back sides of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 (CF side, TFT side). ) Are provided.
[0003]
In the manufacturing process of the color liquid crystal display having such a configuration, it is necessary to go through various processes such as a TFT array process, a color filter manufacturing process, a cell assembling process, and a module assembling process. 1 is a step of attaching a polarizing plate.
[0004]
This polarizing plate sticking step is a step performed after the liquid crystal cell assembling step. As shown in FIG. 3, in order to dispose a polarizing plate 2 below a rectangular liquid crystal cell substrate 1 having a short side and a long side, and to expose an adhesive layer attached to one surface of the polarizing plate 2, The release film 2a is separated from the polarizing plate 2. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the polarizing plate 2 adsorbed and fixed to the set table 2A is tilted up to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 adsorbed and fixed to the panel adsorption table 50, and one side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 ( The polarizing plate 2 is brought into close contact with the CF surface (roller 5). Thereafter, after the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is inverted, the polarizing plate 3 is similarly attached to the other surface (TFT surface) of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1.
[0005]
Here, a schematic configuration of a conventional polarizing plate sticking apparatus 2000 will be described with reference to FIG. The polarizing plate sticking apparatus 2000 includes a transport line 10 for transporting the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 in a predetermined direction. This transport line includes a first polarizing plate sticking line (CF side polarizing plate sticking line) 300 and a second polarizing plate sticking line (TFT side polarizing plate sticking line) 400. Between the first polarizing plate sticking line 300 and the second polarizing plate sticking line 400, a reversing station 700 for reversing the front and back surfaces (CF surface side, TFT surface side) of the substrate is provided. An inversion station 800 is provided on the downstream side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 in the transport direction of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 on the two-polarizing plate attaching line 400. Note that a cleaning transport line 100 in the cleaning step is connected to the upstream side of the transport line 10.
[0006]
The first polarizing plate attaching line 300 is provided with a cleaning roller 301, an alignment station 302, an alignment CCD camera 303, and a polarizing plate attaching station 310 from the upstream side. Similarly, a cleaning roller 401, an alignment station 402, a CCD camera 403, and a polarizing plate sticking station 410 are provided on the second polarizing plate sticking line 400 from the upstream side.
[0007]
In the transport line 10, a first polarizing plate supply line 500 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the polarizing plate sticking station 310 of the first polarizing plate sticking line 300. The first polarizing plate supply line 500 is used to take out the polarizing plate 2 from the polarizing plate cartridge port 501 for storing a plurality of polarizing plates 2 to be attached to the CF side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1. , A polarizing plate cleaner 504, and a polarizing plate alignment station 505.
[0008]
Similarly, a second polarizing plate supply line 600 is provided on the transport line 10 so as to be orthogonal to the polarizing plate sticking station 410 of the second polarizing plate sticking line 400. Similar to the first polarizing plate supply line 400, the second polarizing plate supply line 500 includes a polarizing plate cartridge port 601 for storing a plurality of polarizing plates 3 to be attached to the TFT side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1, A polarizing plate take-out station 603 for taking out the polarizing plate 3 from the cartridge port 601, a polarizing plate cleaner 604, and a polarizing plate alignment station 605 are provided.
[0009]
In the polarizing plate sticking apparatus 2000 having the above configuration, the polarizing plates 2 and 3 are stuck to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 by the liquid crystal transported from the cleaning / transport line 100 along the direction in which the long side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 extends. The cell substrate 1 is transported with the cell substrate 1 as it is through the first polarizing plate attaching line 300, and the polarizing plate is attached to the CF side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 at the polarizing plate attaching station 310 based on the procedure shown in FIGS. 2 is affixed.
[0010]
Next, in the reversing station 700, after the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 are reversed, the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is transported in the second polarizing plate bonding line 400, and the polarizing plate bonding station is moved based on the procedure shown in FIGS. At 410, the polarizing plate 3 is attached to the TFT side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1. Thereafter, in the reversing station 800, the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is again turned upside down, and then carried out to the next step (automatic inspection step, module assembly step).
[0011]
The prior art of the invention according to the present application has been described based on general technical information obtained by the applicant.However, as far as the applicant memorizes, as prior art document information before the filing of the present application, The applicant does not have the information to be disclosed, nor is he aware of the applicant's own patent applications prior to the present application.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, the size of color liquid crystal displays has been increasing. In the past, the size of color liquid crystal displays was mainly 15 inches, but in the future, 30 inches and 45 inches will be mainstream. The size of the display is expected to increase rapidly.
[0013]
As described above, when the size of the color liquid crystal display is increased, the polarizing plate sticking apparatus shown in FIG. 5 necessarily has a large footprint, particularly, a length in the transport direction. However, due to the limitations of the factory site, the footprint cannot be increased indefinitely.
[0014]
Also, in the step of attaching the polarizing plates 2 and 3 to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1, the tact time becomes long. However, even if the size of the color liquid crystal display is increased, it is necessary to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost of the color liquid crystal display, and it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process of the color liquid crystal display.
[0015]
Here, in the case of the polarizing plate sticking apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the polarizing plate 2 is disposed below the liquid crystal cell substrate 1, and then the release film 2a is separated from the polarizing plate 2 to remove the liquid crystal cell substrate 1. The polarizing plate 2 was adhered to one surface.
[0016]
On the other hand, as a method for improving the efficiency of the step of attaching the polarizing plates 2 and 3 to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 (suppressing the increase in the tact time), a tandem method is exemplified. In this tandem method, in order to effectively use the time for separating the release film 2a from the polarizing plate 2, the release film 2a is separated from the polarizing plate 2 in advance on the polarizing plate attaching line, and then separated from the polarizing plate 2. The step of separating the mold film 2a and the step of adhering the polarizing plate 2 to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 are performed in parallel.
[0017]
However, in the case of this tandem method, since the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is exposed for a long time, the probability that dust and the like adhere to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer increases. In addition, when a trouble occurs on the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 side and the line is stopped, the polarizer 2 from which the release film 2a has already been separated is likely to have dust or the like adhered to the adhesive layer. It is disposed of because it is expensive. As described above, in the case of the tandem method, although the tact time can be reduced, the yield of the product cannot be improved, and the production cost of the color liquid crystal display generally increases. It is considered that the risk is high.
[0018]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and a polarizing plate attaching device capable of suppressing an increase in the footprint of a polarizing plate attaching device without causing a decrease in product yield. Is to provide.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the polarizing plate sticking apparatus according to the present invention, the liquid crystal cell substrate is conveyed in a predetermined direction on a surface of a rectangular liquid crystal cell substrate having a short side and a long side. What is claimed is: 1. A polarizing plate sticking device for sticking a polarizing plate to a cell substrate, comprising: a transfer line for transferring the liquid crystal cell substrate in a predetermined direction; and a polarizing plate provided on the transfer line, the polarizing plate being provided on a surface of the liquid crystal cell substrate. And a polarizing plate transport line for transporting a polarizing plate to be attached to the surface of the liquid crystal cell substrate to the attaching station.
[0020]
Further, the transport line transports the liquid crystal cell substrate along the direction in which the short side extends, so that the liquid crystal cell transported along the direction in which the long side extends on the upstream side of the attaching station. A turning station for turning the substrate by 90 degrees is provided. More preferably, the turning station is provided at an entrance of the transfer line.
[0021]
According to this configuration, in the polarizing plate sticking apparatus, the liquid crystal cell substrate is transported along the direction in which the short side extends. As a result, the length of the transfer line can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the transfer is performed along the direction in which the long side extends. As a result, even in a polarizing plate sticking device that sticks a polarizing plate to a large liquid crystal cell substrate without increasing the length of the polarizing plate sticking device along the length in the transport direction, an increase in footprint is suppressed. It becomes possible.
[0022]
In addition, the time required for attaching the polarizing plate to the liquid crystal cell substrate is due to the length of the side along the transport direction of the liquid crystal cell substrate. It is also possible to improve the yield.
[0023]
Further, in the polarizing plate sticking apparatus, preferably, the polarizing plate transport line, a parallel line extending substantially parallel to the transport line, to directly supply the polarizing plate to the sticking station, for the transport line And orthogonal lines that are substantially orthogonal.
[0024]
Thus, by providing a parallel line extending substantially parallel to the transport line on the polarizer transport line, it is possible to suppress an increase in the footprint of the polarizer attaching apparatus. In particular, in the present polarizing plate sticking apparatus, since the liquid crystal cell substrate is transported along the direction in which the short side extends, the polarizing plate is transported along the direction in which the long side extends. Become. Therefore, by providing a parallel line extending substantially parallel to the transport line on the polarizer transport line as described above, it is possible to suppress an increase in the footprint of the polarizer attaching apparatus.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a polarizing plate sticking apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a polarizing plate sticking apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment. In addition, structurally the same or corresponding parts as those of the conventional polarizing plate sticking apparatus are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the overlapping description will not be repeated.
[0026]
A structural feature of the polarizing plate sticking apparatus 1000 is that the transport direction of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 processed in the previous process is 90 degrees between the entrance, which is on the upstream side of the transport line 10, and the cleaning transport line 100. The point is that a turning station 200 for turning is provided. As a specific configuration of the turning station 200, a turntable 202 for turning the conveyed liquid crystal cell substrate 1 by 90 degrees is provided.
[0027]
The liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is conveyed from the cleaning / conveying line 100 along the direction in which the long side thereof extends. In, the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is transported along the direction in which the short side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 extends.
[0028]
With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the length of the transport line as compared with the case of a conventional polarizing plate sticking apparatus that is transported along the direction in which the long side extends. In addition, the time required for attaching the polarizing plates 2 and 3 to the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is determined by the length of the side along the transport direction of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1. It is also possible to improve the yield by lowering the probability of establishment.
[0029]
Further, as a further structural feature, the arrangement of the first polarizing plate transfer line 500 and the second polarizing plate transfer line 600 can be cited. The first polarizing plate transport line 500 will be described. A first parallel line 500A extending substantially parallel to the transport line 10 and a first parallel line 500 substantially orthogonal to the transport line 10 for directly supplying the polarizing plate 2 to the attaching station 310 are provided. And an orthogonal line 500B. The same applies to the second polarizing plate transport line 600. The second parallel line 600 </ b> A extending substantially parallel to the transport line 10 and the polarizing plate 3 are supplied directly to the sticking station 410. And a second orthogonal line 600B that is orthogonal.
[0030]
In the present polarizing plate sticking apparatus 1000, as described above, the liquid crystal cell substrate 1 is transported along the direction in which the short side extends. Further, since the polarizing plates 2 and 3 are supplied from a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport line 10, the polarizing plates 2 and 3 It will be conveyed along the direction in which the long side extends. Therefore, by providing the first parallel line 500A and the second parallel line 600A extending substantially parallel to the transport line 10 on the first polarizer transport line 500 and the second polarizer transport line 600 as described above, the polarizer is attached. It is possible to suppress an increase in footprint due to the arrangement of the polarizing plate transport line of the apparatus 1000.
[0031]
Although the polarizing plate sticking apparatus 1000 has been disclosed as the most preferred embodiment for understanding the present invention, the disclosure in this embodiment is merely an example. For example, in order to continuously attach a polarizing plate to the CF surface side and the TFT surface side of the liquid crystal cell substrate 1, respectively, a device configuration in which a first polarizing plate attaching line 300 and a second polarizing plate attaching line 400 are continuously provided. Although disclosed, when a step of continuously attaching is not adopted, it is also possible to use a single polarizing plate attaching line.
[0032]
Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not defined only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the claims. In addition, all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the polarizing plate sticking apparatus in this invention, even if it is a polarizing plate sticking apparatus which sticks a polarizing plate to a large liquid crystal cell board | substrate, it becomes possible to suppress increase of a footprint. In addition, the time required for attaching the polarizing plate can be shortened, and the yield can be improved due to the reduced probability of contamination with dust.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall plan view showing a schematic configuration of a polarizing plate attaching apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross-sectional structure of a color liquid crystal display.
FIG. 3 is a first sectional process view schematically showing a process of attaching a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal cell substrate.
FIG. 4 is a second sectional process view schematically showing a step of attaching a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal cell substrate.
FIG. 5 is an overall plan view showing a schematic configuration of a polarizing plate sticking apparatus according to a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 liquid crystal cell substrate, 2,3 polarizer, 2a release film, 5 transport roller, 10 transport line, 100 washing transport line, 200 turning station, 202 turntable, 300 first polarizing plate sticking line (CF side polarizing plate sticking) Line, 301, 401 Cleaning roller, 302, 402 Alignment station, 303, 403 CCD camera, 310, 410 Polarizing plate pasting station, 400 Second polarizing plate pasting line (TFT side polarizing plate pasting line), 500 First polarizing plate Supply line, 501, 601 polarizing plate cartridge port, 503, 603 polarizing plate removal station, 504, 604 polarizing plate cleaner, 505, 605 polarizing plate alignment station, 500A first parallel line, 500B first orthogonal line, 600A second parallel Line, 600B No. Orthogonal line, 700, 800 reversal station.

Claims (3)

A polarizing plate sticking apparatus for sticking a polarizing plate to the liquid crystal cell substrate while transporting the liquid crystal cell substrate in a predetermined direction, on a surface of a rectangular liquid crystal cell substrate having a short side and a long side,
A transfer line for transferring the liquid crystal cell substrate in a predetermined direction,
An attaching station for attaching a polarizing plate to the surface of the liquid crystal cell substrate, which is provided on the transport line,
A polarizing plate transfer line for transferring a polarizing plate for sticking to the surface of the liquid crystal cell substrate at the sticking station,
The transport line is to transport the liquid crystal cell substrate along the direction in which the short side extends, so that the liquid crystal cell substrate that has been transported along the direction in which the long side extends on the upstream side of the attaching station. What is claimed is: 1. A polarizing plate sticking device, comprising: a turning station for turning by 90 degrees. The polarizing plate sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the turning station is provided at an entrance of the transport line. The polarizing plate transport line has a parallel line extending substantially parallel to the transport line, and an orthogonal line substantially perpendicular to the transport line for directly supplying the polarizing plate to the sticking station. 3. The polarizing plate sticking apparatus according to 1 or 2.

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