Method of fabricating liquid crystal display device
View Patent ↗A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, includes the steps of (a) coating a material of which an alignment film is composed, on first and second substrates, (b) blowing gas to a surface of the material to dry the material, (c) rubbing the material for forming the alignment film, (d) arranging the first and second substrates such that the alignment films formed on the first and second substrates face each other, and filling a gap formed between the first and second substrates with liquid crystal.
1. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, comprising the steps of:
(a) coating a material of which an alignment film is composed, on first and second substrates;
(b) blowing gas to a surface of said material to dry said material, wherein said gas blown on said surface does not heat said material and dries the surface of said material at a substantially uniform rate;
(c) after drying the material, rubbing said material for forming said alignment film; and
(d) arranging said first and second substrates such that said alignment films formed on said first and second substrates face each other, and filling a gap formed between said first and second substrates with liquid crystal.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said gas is comprised of or contains at least one of air and nitrogen gas.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said air contains no humidity.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said gas is blown to a surface of said material in said step (b) at a flow rate in the range of 1 m 3 /minute to 5 m 3 /minute both inclusive.
5. A method of drying a material of which an alignment film is composed in a process of fabrication of a liquid crystal display device, comprising the steps of blowing gas to a surface of said material, wherein said gas blown on said surface does not heat said material and dries the surface of said material at a substantially uniform rate and, after drying said material, forming said alignment film.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said gas is comprised of or contains at least one of air and nitrogen gas.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said air contains no humidity.
8. The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said gas is blown to a surface of said material at a flow rate in the range of 1 m 3 /minute to 5 m 3 /minute both inclusive.
9. An apparatus for drying a material of which an alignment film is composed in a process of fabrication of a liquid crystal display device, comprising:
(a) a first unit for coating said material onto a substrate; and
(b) a second unit for blowing gas to a surface of said material to dry said material,
wherein said gas blown on said surface does heat said material, and wherein said second unit blows the gas to dry the surface of said material at a substantially uniform rate and before the alignment film is formed.
10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said second unit blows gas which is comprised of or contains at least one of air and nitrogen gas.
11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said air contains no humidity.
12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said second unit blows said gas to a surface of said material at a flow rate in the range of 1 m 3 /minute to 5 m 3 /minute both inclusive.
13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said second unit includes a stage on which said substrate is to be placed and which is equipped with no heaters.
14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said second unit includes a heater for heating said material.
15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said heater is comprised of at least one of an infra-red irradiator and a micro-wave irradiator.