Adjusting apparatus of gap width and method thereof

Abstract

Provided is an adjusting method of a gap width of a laminated body composed of a color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate. A decompression chamber acting as a closed space communicating with a vacuum pump is decompressed, while a pressurization chamber that includes a decompression chamber is pressurized by driving a compressor.

1 . A method of adjusting a gap width of a laminated body composed of first and second substrates, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining said laminated body by laminating said first and second substrates with a member for regulating said gap width interposed therebetween; and    decompressing said gap and applying a pressure to said laminated body from the outside.    
     
     
         2 . The method of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 1 , wherein said pressure applied from the outside is applied with a fluid taken as a pressure medium.  
     
     
         3 . The method of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 1 , wherein said laminated body is disposed in a first closed space, and said gap is decompressed by allowing a suction force to act in said first closed space.  
     
     
         4 . The method of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 3 , wherein a second closed space covering said first closed space is formed, and a pressure is applied to said laminated body from the outside by introducing a pressurized fluid into said second closed space.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of adjusting a gap width of a laminated body composed of first and second substrates and having a planar portion, comprising: 
 a first chamber having a closed space for accommodating said laminated body and provided with a flexible film contacting the planar portion of said laminated body;    a second chamber having a closed space for accommodating said first chamber;    a decompressor for applying a decompression force to said first chamber; and    a pressurizer for applying a pressurization force to said second chamber.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 5 , wherein said first chamber comprises: a mounting stage for mounting said laminated body; and said flexible film forming said closed space with said mounting stage by closely contacting a periphery thereof to said mounting stage, and said laminated body is accommodated in said closed space.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 6 , wherein said pressurizer applies a pressurization force to said second chamber by introducing a pressurized fluid thereto, and the pressurization force is allowed to act on said laminated body through said flexible film.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of adjusting a gap width according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressurization force is applied to said second chamber by said pressurizer while the decompression force is applied to said first chamber by said decompressor.  
     
     
         9 . A manufacturing method of a display panel in which a display medium is sealed between a pair of substrates disposed opposite to each other, said substrates being separated from each other with a gap of a specified width, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) coating sealant in the form of a picture frame on a peripheral portion of at least one of said pair of substrates except an injection port for said display medium;    (b) obtaining a laminated body having the gap of the specified width by laminating said pair of substrates with said sealant interposed therebetween;    (c) applying a pressure to said pair of substrates from the outside while decompressing said gap;    (d) curing said sealant; and    (e) injecting said display medium from said injection port after curing said sealant.    
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing method of a display panel according to  claim 9 , wherein in said step (c), the pressure applied from the outside is applied with a fluid taken as a pressure medium.  
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing method of a display panel according to  claim 9 , wherein in said steps (c) and (d), a curing process for said sealant is carried out after said decompressing process and said pressure applying process.  
     
     
         12 . The manufacturing method of a display panel according to  claim 9 , wherein in said step (c), the pressure in said gap is equal to the atmospheric pressure or lower.  
     
     
         13 . A method of applying a pressure to an article with a hollow portion communicating with the outside, said method comprising the steps of: 
 applying a pressurization force to said article by a fluid in a state where said article is disposed in a closed space;    applying a decompression force to said hollow portion through a system different from that of said closed space, said hollow portion communicating with said system.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of applying a pressure to an article, comprising: 
 a first chamber having a closed space for accommodating said article and provided with a diaphragm in a part thereof;    a second chamber provided with a closed space including said first chamber;    a decompressor for applying a decompression force to said first chamber; and    a pressurizer for applying a fluid pressure to said second chamber,    wherein said diaphragm applies a pressure to said article when said decompressor applies the decompression force to said first chamber, and applies the pressure to said article when said pressurizer applies the fluid pressure to said second chamber.