JP6164072B2 - Liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus and liquid crystal panel manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus and a liquid crystal panel manufacturing method.

  In the manufacture of liquid crystal panels, a polymer panel is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength using a light source such as an ultraviolet lamp on a panel to be processed that has a photoreactive polymer. There is a method of performing a process called photo-alignment to give a function.

  In particular, in order to develop a state in which the blue phase liquid crystal is stabilized with a polymer, that is, a polymer stabilized blue phase (PSBP), the temperature unevenness and temperature of the panel to be processed during light irradiation are reduced. The influence of the change over time on the uneven display characteristics is great. For this reason, in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel that irradiates the panel to be processed with light of a predetermined wavelength, the unevenness of the temperature of the panel to be processed at the time of ultraviolet irradiation, Is strongly desired.

  Therefore, an ultraviolet irradiation device used in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal panel containing a photoreactive substance has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The ultraviolet irradiation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 describes a configuration including a cooling mechanism that supplies cooling air to the inside of the outer tube of each light source element.

JP 2011-215463 A

  However, in the ultraviolet irradiation device disclosed in Patent Document 1, nonuniformity of the temperature of the panel to be processed for expressing the polymer-stabilized blue phase is suppressed, or the change of the temperature of the panel to be processed is suppressed. Is difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus and a liquid crystal panel manufacturing method that suppress unevenness of the temperature of the panel to be processed and suppress changes in the temperature of the panel to be processed.

  The liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment includes a light irradiation unit; an irradiation box; a stage; a chamber; and a circulation type air cooling apparatus. The light irradiation unit emits light. The irradiation box has a window material that transmits light from the light irradiation unit. The stage is provided so as to face the window member and includes a placement surface on which the panel to be processed is placed. A stage distribute | circulates the liquid which temperature-controls the area where the light of a mounting surface is irradiated inside. The chamber covers the irradiation box and the stage. The circulation type air cooling apparatus includes an inlet and an outlet provided in the chamber, and the gas introduced from the inlet is discharged from the outlet to control the temperature in the chamber.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the manufacturing apparatus of a liquid crystal panel and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel which suppress the nonuniformity of the temperature of a to-be-processed panel and the temperature change of a to-be-processed panel can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a panel to be processed which is irradiated with light by the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating light transmitted through the window material of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the window material of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing measurement points of temperature change of the comparative example and the products 1 and 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to another modification of the embodiment.

  The liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below includes a light irradiation unit 10, an irradiation box 20, a stage 30, a chamber 40, and a circulation type air cooling device 50. The light irradiation unit 10 emits light. The irradiation box 20 includes a window material 21 that transmits light from the light irradiation unit 10. The stage 30 includes a placement surface 31 that is provided so as to face the window member 21 and on which the panel to be processed 2 is placed. The stage 30 circulates a liquid that controls the temperature of the area of the mounting surface 31 where the light is irradiated. The chamber 40 covers the irradiation box 20 and the stage 30. The circulation type air cooling device 50 includes an inlet 51 and an outlet 52 provided in the chamber 40, and the gas introduced from the inlet 51 is discharged from the outlet 52 to control the temperature in the chamber 40.

  In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the window material 21 suppresses transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength, or both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength. The function which suppresses permeation of is provided.

  In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the panel to be processed 2 includes a color filter substrate 3 or a counter substrate 4, a counter substrate 4, and a liquid crystal layer 5. The counter substrate 4 faces the color filter substrate 3. The liquid crystal layer 5 is provided between the color filter substrate 3 and the counter substrate 4. The panel 2 to be processed is disposed on the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 side is in contact with the placement surface 31, and the light irradiation unit 10 irradiates the panel 2 to be processed from the counter substrate 4 side.

  In the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the liquid crystal layer 5 includes at least a nematic liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition expressing a blue phase, and a polymerizable monomer. The liquid crystal layer 5 develops a polymer-stabilized blue phase when irradiated with light.

In addition, in the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the light irradiation unit 10 has a main wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm, and the illuminance of light having a wavelength of 365 nm on the mounting surface is 15 mW / cm ^2. The following light source 11 is provided.

  Further, in the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described below, the temperature in the panel 2 to be processed when irradiated with light is ± 0. The stage 30 and the circulation type air cooling device 50 are controlled so as to be within 5 ° C.

  Moreover, the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel which concerns on embodiment described below is the light irradiation part 10 which emits light; The irradiation box 20 which has the window material 21 which permeate | transmits the light from the light irradiation part 10, and; A stage 30 provided with a placement surface 31 on which the panel 2 to be treated is placed, and a liquid for controlling the temperature in an area irradiated with light on the placement surface 31; A chamber 40 covering the box 20 and the stage 30; and an inlet 51 and an outlet 52 provided in the chamber 40. The gas introduced from the inlet 51 is exhausted from the outlet 52, and the temperature in the chamber 40 is adjusted. A circulating air-cooling device 53 for controlling; placing the panel to be treated 2 on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30; circulating the liquid in the stage 30, and introducing the gas Having; while discharged circulated from the discharge port 52 is introduced into the chamber 40 from 51, and the step of irradiating the light from the light irradiation unit 10 through the processed panel 2 to the window material 21 arranged on the mounting surface 31.

[Embodiment]
Next, a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the to-be-processed panel irradiated with light by the manufacturing apparatus of the said liquid crystal panel, FIG. 4 is a figure explaining the light which the window material of the manufacturing apparatus of the liquid crystal panel which concerns on embodiment transmits, FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the window material of the manufacturing apparatus of the liquid crystal panel which concerns on embodiment.

  A liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a manufacturing apparatus) 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 irradiates a panel 2 to be processed while maintaining a constant temperature, and applies, for example, liquid crystal to the panel 2 to be processed. The polymer-stabilized blue phase constituting the display is developed. As shown in FIG. 3, the panel 2 to be processed irradiated with light by the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a color filter substrate 3, a counter substrate 4 facing the color filter substrate 3, and the color filter substrate 3 and the counter substrate 4. And a liquid crystal layer 5 provided therebetween.

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

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

  A liquid crystal composition exhibiting a blue phase is a temperature range that can stably exist, for example, at room temperature, specifically, 0 ° C. or higher, while being irradiated with light, which is higher than that of a nematic liquid crystal composition. It is a material that enables responsiveness. A liquid crystal composition that develops a blue phase is, for example, unevenness when irradiated with light in a state of being kept within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to a predetermined set temperature between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. And exhibiting a polymer-stabilized blue phase. For example, when the set temperature is 55 ° C., the liquid crystal composition exhibiting a blue phase is irradiated with light while the temperature is maintained within a range of 54.5 ° C. to 55.5 ° C. When the set temperature is 60 ° C., the liquid crystal composition expressing the blue phase is in the range of 59.5 ° C. to 60.5 ° C. When light is irradiated with the temperature kept inside, the polymer-stabilized blue phase is uniformly exhibited.

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

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a light irradiation unit 10 that emits light, an irradiation box 20, a stage 30, a chamber 40, a circulation type air cooling device 50, a control unit 60, and the like. I have.

The light irradiation unit 10 emits light, and the stage 30 facing the window member 21 that transmits light from the light irradiation unit 10 in the irradiation box 20, specifically, the irradiation box 20. The panel 2 to be processed placed on the surface 31 can be irradiated with light through the window material 21. The light irradiation unit 10 includes a plurality of rod-shaped lamps 11 as light sources. The rod-shaped lamp 11 is a tube lamp that extends linearly, such as a metal halide lamp that mainly emits ultraviolet rays by enclosing a metal halide such as mercury, iron or iodine, or a rare gas such as argon. The rod-shaped lamp 11 has a main wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm, and the illuminance of light (ultraviolet light) having a wavelength of 365 nm is 15 mW / cm ² or less. Further, the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped lamp 11 is parallel to the direction from the inlet 51 provided in the chamber 40 to the outlet 52, that is, the direction in which gas as gas in the chamber 40 flows. In addition, UV-M02 (made by Oak Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) can be used as an illuminance meter, and UV-SN35 (made by Oak Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) can be used as a light receiver.

  In the present embodiment, three rod-shaped lamps 11 are provided and are disposed above the panel 2 to be processed placed on the irradiation box 20, the stage 30, and the placement surface 31. Further, the rod-shaped lamp 11 is covered with a water cooling jacket (not shown) through which light irradiated by the rod-shaped lamp 11 passes. The water-cooled jacket is filled with water, and the charged water is circulated to keep the rod-shaped lamp 11 at a desired operating temperature.

  The irradiation box 20 is formed in a box shape and is disposed on the stage 30 so as to accommodate the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 therein. The irradiation box 20 includes a window member 21 that is provided between the light irradiation unit 10 and the placement surface 31 and is irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit 10.

  The window material 21 has a function of suppressing transmission of both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength. The window material 21 transmits light having a wavelength suitable for the liquid crystal layer 5 to exhibit a polymer-stabilized blue phase, and suppresses (limits) transmission of other light. In the present embodiment, the window material 21 is configured by overlapping a first filter 22 and a second filter 23 as shown in FIG. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 4, the first filter 22 transmits ultraviolet rays having a wavelength [nm] of A to B, and other light (ultraviolet rays having a wavelength [nm] shorter than A, wavelength [nm] Transmission (ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light) longer than B is suppressed (restricted). As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the second filter 23 transmits ultraviolet rays, visible rays, and infrared rays having a wavelength [nm] of C to D, and other light (especially, the wavelength [nm] is from C). Also suppresses (limits) transmission of short ultraviolet rays and infrared rays having a wavelength [nm] longer than D). C is longer than A, shorter than B, and B is shorter than D. Therefore, in this embodiment, the window material 21 transmits ultraviolet rays having a wavelength [nm] of C to B and suppresses (limits) the transmission of other light, as indicated by parallel oblique lines in FIG. is there. Moreover, in this invention, the window material 21 is made to vapor-deposit the filter which permeate | transmits the ultraviolet-ray whose wavelength [nm] is AB from the 2nd filter 23 mentioned above, and suppresses (limits) transmission of other light. It may be configured.

  In the present invention, if the window material 21 can transmit light having a wavelength suitable for the liquid crystal layer 5 to exhibit a polymer-stabilized blue phase, the window material 21 transmits ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. It may be configured by a filter that suppresses (limits), or may be configured by a filter that suppresses (limits) transmission of infrared light having a predetermined wavelength. Thus, in the present invention, the window material 21 has a function of suppressing (limiting) transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength according to a wavelength suitable for the liquid crystal layer 5 to exhibit a polymer-stabilized blue phase. As long as it has.

  The stage 30 includes a mounting surface 31 on which the panel to be processed 2 is mounted, and the temperature of the panel to be processed 2 mounted on the mounting surface 31 is increased by circulating water as a liquid having a constant temperature inside. It is something to control. The mounting surface 31 is provided so as to face the window member 21 and faces the light irradiation unit 10. In the present invention, it is desirable that the temperature at which the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 is kept as constant as possible, and the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated placed on the placement surface 31 is constant. If the temperature of the liquid circulated in the stage 30 is slightly lower than the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31, the temperature is slightly higher. There may be. In the present invention, the stage 30 may circulate various liquids in addition to water.

  On the stage 30, the processed panel 2 is placed so that the color filter substrate 3 side is in contact with the placement surface 31. That is, the panel 2 to be processed is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 contacts the placement surface 31. For this purpose, the light irradiation unit 10 irradiates the processed panel 2 with light from the counter substrate 4 side.

  The stage 30 is formed in a thick flat plate shape made of aluminum alloy or the like, and a circulation path (not shown) through which a liquid having a temperature at which the panel 2 to be processed reaches a desired temperature is provided. ing. Connected to the stage 30 is a fluid heat and circulation means 32 that keeps the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated constant and circulates a liquid as a fluid in the circulation path of the stage 30. The fluid heat-retaining / circulating means 32 is, for example, a pipe (partly shown in FIG. 2) 33 connected to a circulation path for circulating the liquid, a well-known heater, a cooling device, a pump for sending out the liquid in the pipe 33, or the like. Composed.

  The chamber 40 is formed in a box shape, covers the entire irradiation box 20 and the stage 30, and has the light irradiation unit 10 on the top.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the circulation type air cooling device 50 includes an introduction port 51 and a discharge port 52 provided in the chamber 40, and gas introduced from the introduction port 51 is discharged from the discharge port 52. The temperature is controlled. The circulation type air cooling device 50 discharges the gas introduced from the introduction port 51 from the discharge port 52 and controls the temperature in the chamber 40, whereby the temperature in the chamber 40, that is, the panel 2 to be processed in the irradiation box 20. Is to keep the temperature at a constant temperature.

  In the present embodiment, the introduction port 51 opens at a lower portion of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the chamber 40, and the discharge port 52 opens at an upper portion of the other end portion of the chamber 40. The circulation type air cooling device 50 causes the gas introduced from the inlet 51 to flow into the chamber 40 and discharges it from the outlet 52. The circulation type air cooling device 50 includes, for example, a blower pipe (shown in FIG. 2) 53 for circulating gas in order through the inlet 51, the chamber 40, and the outlet 52 in addition to the inlet 51 and the outlet 52. And a well-known heater for keeping the gas at a constant temperature, a cooling device, a blower for sending out the gas in the blower pipe 53, and the like.

  In the present invention, the temperature of the gas circulated in order from the introduction port 51, the chamber 40, and the discharge port 52, and the temperature at which the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 is kept as equal as possible. If the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 is maintained at a constant temperature, the temperature of the circulated gas is the temperature of the panel 2 to be placed placed on the placement surface 31. It may be a slightly lower temperature or a slightly higher temperature. Note that the gas temperature is only a target temperature and may be different from the actual temperature.

  In addition, the manufacturing apparatus 1 circulates the liquid circulating in the circulation path provided inside the stage 30, the water circulated in the water-cooling jacket, and the inside and outside of the chamber 40 at appropriate places such as the vicinity of the discharge port 52. There is provided a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the gas or the like. The manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with a flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of the gas introduced from the introduction port 51 into the irradiation box 20 at an appropriate location such as the vicinity of the introduction port 51.

  The control means 60 controls the light irradiation operation by the manufacturing apparatus 1. The control means 60 is connected to the fluid heat and circulation means 32, the circulation type air cooling device 50, the light irradiation unit 10, and the like. The control means 60 is mainly composed of an arithmetic processing unit constituted by a CPU or the like, and a microprocessor (not shown) provided with a ROM, a RAM, etc., and a display means for displaying the status of the processing operation, and an operator can process content information. Etc. are connected to the operation means used when registering.

  When irradiating light from the light irradiation unit 10 to the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30, the control means 60 controls the rod lamp 11 based on the detection result of a temperature sensor or the like. The covered water cooling jacket is controlled to keep the bar lamp 11 at the desired operating temperature. In addition, when irradiating light from the light irradiation unit 10 to the processing panel 2 placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30, the control means 60 keeps the fluid warming based on the detection result of a temperature sensor or the like. The temperature of the liquid circulated to the stage 30 is controlled to be constant by controlling the circulation means 32, and the temperature of the gas circulated inside and outside of the chamber 40 is controlled to be constant by controlling the circulation type air cooling device 50. The temperature of the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 is kept constant.

  For example, when the control unit 60 irradiates the processing panel 2 with light from the light irradiation unit 10, the temperature of the processing panel 2 when the light is irradiated is a predetermined value between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. The stage 30 and the circulation type air cooling device 50 are controlled so as to be within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to the set temperature. That is, in the present invention, to keep the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30 constant is ± 0.5 with respect to a predetermined set temperature between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. It means keeping the temperature within ℃. For example, when the set temperature is 55 ° C., the fluid heat insulation and circulation means so that the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed is maintained at a temperature within the range of 54.5 ° C. to 55.5 ° C. by the control means 60. The temperature of the liquid circulated to 32 and the temperature in the irradiation box 20 are controlled. When the set temperature is 60 ° C., the control means 60 causes the fluid heat and circulation means 32 to keep the temperature of the panel 2 to be treated at a temperature within the range of 59.5 ° C. to 60.5 ° C. The temperature of the circulated liquid and the flow rate and temperature of the gas introduced into the irradiation box 20 are controlled.

  Next, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel using the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration, that is, a method for irradiating the panel to be processed 2 with light will be described. First, when the operator registers the processing content information in the control means 60 and receives an instruction to start the processing operation, the processing operation is started. In the processing operation, the panel 2 to be processed is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30. The control means 60 circulates the liquid in the stage 30, introduces gas into the chamber 40 through the inlet 51, discharges it from the outlet 52, and circulates water in the water-cooled jacket. The control means 60 irradiates the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 with light from the light irradiation unit 10 through the window material 21 for a certain period of time. The panel to be processed 2 irradiated with light for a certain period of time is removed from the stage 30, and the panel to be processed 2 before light irradiation is placed on the placement surface 31 of the stage 30. In the same manner as described above, light is irradiated.

  According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the liquid crystal panel manufacturing method according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration, the liquid is circulated in the stage 30 so that the temperature of the panel to be processed 2 is controlled to be constant. In addition, the gas in the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20 that accommodates the panel to be processed 2 is kept constant. Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the liquid crystal panel manufacturing method, the temperature inside the irradiation box 20 that houses the panel 2 to be processed and the outside of the irradiation box 20, that is, the temperature inside the chamber 40 is kept substantially the same and substantially constant. Since the heat radiation from the irradiation box 20 to the chamber 40 can be suppressed, the temperature change in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel, the temperature change of the to-be-processed panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed. Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the liquid crystal panel manufacturing method, the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 can be kept constant by the liquid in the stage 30. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel, the temperature change of the to-be-processed panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the window material 21 transmits light having a wavelength suitable for the liquid crystal layer 5 to express the polymer-stabilized blue phase, and restricts transmission of other light. Therefore, only the minimum light necessary to develop the polymer-stabilized blue phase is irradiated on the panel 2 to be treated. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, even if light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit 10 to the processing panel 2 placed on the mounting surface 31, it is undesirable for the processing panel 2. Can be suppressed from being irradiated. In particular, it is possible to prevent the panel 2 from being irradiated with undesired light such as infrared rays that cause a temperature change. Therefore, it can suppress that the temperature of the to-be-processed panel 2 mounted in the mounting surface 31 rises. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel, the change of the temperature of the to-be-processed panel 2 in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed more reliably.

  Moreover, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel, gas is introduced into the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20. For this reason, the temperature of the gas in the chamber 40 and the temperature in the irradiation box 20 can be kept substantially the same. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel, the temperature non-uniformity of the panel 2 to be processed can be suppressed.

  Moreover, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, a gas having a constant temperature is introduced into the chamber 40 covering the irradiation box 20. For this reason, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, the temperature in the panel 2 to be treated when irradiated with light is, for example, the temperature of the outside air of the manufacturing apparatus 1 such as 50 ° C. or 60 ° C. Even if the difference is large, it is possible to suppress the temperature change of the panel 2 to be processed due to the heat dissipation of the panel 2 to be processed provided in the irradiation box 20 due to the temperature difference from the outside of the manufacturing apparatus 1.

  Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel, it is possible to suppress nonuniformity of the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed placed on the mounting surface 31, and to change the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed. Can be suppressed.

Moreover, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the panel 2 to be processed is placed on the stage 30 so that the color filter substrate 3 is in contact with the placement surface 31, and the light irradiation unit 10 emits light toward the counter substrate 4. Irradiate. Moreover, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the liquid crystal layer 5 contains a liquid crystal composition that expresses a polymer-stabilized blue phase. Furthermore, the light irradiation unit 10 includes a rod-shaped lamp 11 having a main wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm and an illuminance of light having a wavelength of 365 nm of 15 mW / cm ² or less. Further, the temperature of the stage 30 when the panel 2 is irradiated with light is within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to the set temperature between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. The liquid and the gas introduced into the irradiation box 20 are controlled. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, light can be made to act on the liquid crystal layer 5, and a polymer stabilized blue phase can be expressed reliably.

  In addition, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, since the introduction port 51 is provided in the lower part of the chamber 40 and the discharge port 52 is provided in the upper part of the chamber 40, gas is introduced from the lower part of the chamber 40. Is difficult for the gas to directly hit, and the temperature change of the gas in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed. For this reason, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the change of the temperature of the gas in the irradiation box 20 can be suppressed more.

  Next, the effects of the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the liquid crystal panel manufacturing method according to the above-described embodiment were confirmed. The results are shown in Table 1. Table 1 is a graph showing the results of temperature changes of Comparative Examples and Invention Products 1 and 2.

  In the case shown in Table 1, the measurement locations A to I shown in FIG. 6 of the panel 2 to be processed when the panel 2 mounted on the mounting surface 31 is irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit 10. The temperature change of was measured.

  In addition, AI which is a measurement location has shown the detection result of the temperature sensor provided in the location shown by FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing measurement points of temperature change of the comparative example and the products 1 and 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the temperature sensor indicating the detection results A to I is provided on the panel 2 to be processed, that is, the placement surface 31 in the plan view of the manufacturing apparatus 1. A shows the detection result of the temperature sensor provided at one corner near the introduction port 51, and B shows the detection of the temperature sensor provided directly below one end of the rod-shaped lamp 11 near the introduction port 51. A result is shown and C has shown the detection result of the temperature sensor provided in the other corner part near the inlet 51. FIG. D indicates the detection result of the temperature sensor provided at one end in the width direction of the central portion of the mounting surface 31 in the longitudinal direction, and E indicates the central portion of the mounting surface 31 in the longitudinal direction and a rod-shaped lamp. 11 shows the detection result of the temperature sensor provided directly below the central portion of 11, and F shows the detection result of the temperature sensor provided at the other end in the width direction of the central portion of the mounting surface 31 in the longitudinal direction. ing. G indicates the detection result of the temperature sensor provided at one corner near the discharge port 52, and H indicates the detection of the temperature sensor provided directly below the other end of the bar lamp 11 near the discharge port 52. A result is shown, I shows the detection result of the temperature sensor provided in the other corner part near the discharge port 52. FIG.

  With the product 1 of the present invention in Table 1, the set temperature of the stage 30 is 55 ° C., and the temperature of the gas circulated in the chamber 40 by the circulation type air cooling device 50 is 55 ° C. With the product 2 of the present invention in Table 1, the set temperature of the stage 30 is 60 ° C., and the temperature of the gas circulated in the chamber 40 by the circulation type air cooling device 50 is 60 ° C. Further, in the comparative example of Table 1, the set temperature of the stage 30 is set to 60 ° C., and the circulation of gas by the circulation type air cooling device 50 is stopped. Moreover, in the measurement, the temperature change of each measurement location AI from the measurement start to 1200 seconds after was measured. ○ in Table 1 indicates that the panel 2 to be treated can be kept at a constant temperature so that the polymer-stabilized blue phase is stably expressed, and × indicates the polymer-stabilized blue phase stably. It shows that the to-be-processed panel 2 cannot be maintained at a constant temperature so as to express.

  According to the comparative example of Table 1, the measurement location A, the measurement location G, and the measurement location can be obtained using only the stage 30 that is controlled so as to keep the processing panel 2 placed on the placement surface 31 at a constant temperature. The temperature at I may be less than 59.5 ° C., and the temperature at measurement location E and measurement location H may exceed 60.5 ° C. In the comparative example, the minimum temperature at the measurement location A, measurement location G, and measurement location I is 59.0 ° C., and the maximum temperature at the measurement location E and measurement location H is 60.8 ° C. For this reason, according to the comparative example, when light is irradiated, the temperature of the panel 2 to be processed on the mounting surface 31 rises, and it is clear that temperature unevenness occurs because the gas in the chamber 40 is not circulated. It became. Therefore, according to the comparative example, the temperature unevenness of the panel to be processed 2 cannot be suppressed and the change in the temperature of the panel to be processed 2 cannot be suppressed so that the polymer-stabilized blue phase can be stably expressed. It became clear.

  According to the products 1 and 2 of the present invention in Table 1, by using the stage 30 and the circulation type air cooling device 50 that are controlled so as to keep the panel 2 to be processed placed on the placement surface 31 at a constant temperature. In addition, all the temperatures at the measurement points A to I are in the range of 54.5 ° C to 55.5 ° C or 59.5 ° C to 60.5 ° C. For this reason, according to the products 1 and 2 of the present invention, it is possible to suppress uneven temperature of the panel 2 to be treated so that the polymer-stabilized blue phase is stably expressed. It became clear that the change of the temperature can be suppressed.

(Modification)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the introduction port 51 may open at the upper portion of the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the chamber 40, and the discharge port 52 may open at the lower portion of one end portion of the chamber 40. In the modification shown in FIG. 7, since gas is introduced from the upper part of the chamber 40, the gas directly hits the irradiation box 20, and the temperature of the gas in the irradiation box 20 is set to a desired condition earlier. Can do.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus according to another modification of the embodiment. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of inlets 51 may be opened at the lower part of the chamber 40, and a plurality of outlets 52 may be opened at the upper part of the chamber 40. In the modification shown in FIG. 8, the gas is introduced into the chamber 40 from the plurality of inlets 51, so that the temperature of the gas in the irradiation box 20 can be set to a desired condition more quickly.

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

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 2 Panel to be processed 3 Color filter substrate 4 Counter substrate 5 Liquid crystal layer 10 Light irradiation part 11 Rod lamp (light source)
20 Irradiation box 21 Window material 30 Stage 31 Placement surface 40 Chamber 50 Circulating air cooling device 51 Inlet port 52 Outlet port

Claims (7)

A light irradiator that emits light;
An irradiation box having a window material that transmits light from the light irradiation unit;
A stage provided with a placement surface on which the panel to be treated is placed so as to face the window material, and in which a liquid for controlling the temperature of the area of the placement surface irradiated with the light is circulated;
A chamber covering the irradiation box and the stage;
A circulation type air-cooling device comprising an inlet and an outlet provided in the chamber, wherein the gas introduced from the inlet is exhausted from the outlet and controls the temperature in the chamber;
An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel. The apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the window member has a function of suppressing transmission of ultraviolet rays or infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength, or suppressing transmission of both ultraviolet rays and infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength. . The panel to be processed includes a color filter substrate, a counter substrate facing the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the color filter substrate and the counter substrate.
The processed panel is disposed on the stage so that the color filter substrate side is in contact with the mounting surface, and the light irradiation unit irradiates the processed panel with light from the counter substrate side. The apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1. The liquid crystal layer includes at least a nematic liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition that develops a blue phase, and a polymerizable monomer, and exhibits a polymer-stabilized blue phase upon irradiation with the light. The manufacturing apparatus of the liquid crystal panel of description. The light irradiation unit includes a light source having a main wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm, and an illuminance of light having a wavelength of 365 nm on the placement surface of 15 mW / cm ² or less. The manufacturing apparatus of the liquid crystal panel of description. The stage and the stage so that the temperature of the panel to be processed when the light is irradiated to the panel to be processed is within ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to a set temperature between 10 ° C. and 70 ° C. The apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a circulating air cooling device is controlled. A light irradiator that emits light;
An irradiation box having a window material that transmits light from the light irradiation unit;
A stage provided with a placement surface on which the panel to be treated is placed so as to face the window material, and in which a liquid for controlling the temperature of the area of the placement surface irradiated with the light is circulated;
A chamber covering the irradiation box and the stage;
A circulation type air-cooling device comprising an inlet and an outlet provided in the chamber, wherein the gas introduced from the inlet is exhausted from the outlet and controls the temperature in the chamber;
With
Placing the treated panel on the placement surface of the stage;
The window material is disposed on the panel to be processed, which is disposed on the mounting surface, while circulating the liquid in the stage and introducing the gas from the introduction port into the chamber and exhausting and circulating the gas from the discharge port. Irradiating light from the light irradiating part through;
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel having

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