Abstract:
Provided are: a lid capable of capturing a foreign substance from a liquid crystal material in advance before the liquid crystal material is used; and a method of capturing a foreign substance. 
     In a lid ( 20 ) including a bottom part ( 22 ) closing an opening on one end of a circumferential part ( 21 ) having a tubular shape is provided and a circumferential part ( 21 ) placed over a tubular part having an opening of a container provided at the container, the bottom part ( 22 ) covering the tubular part, the lid further includes a partition board ( 211 ) provided at an inner surface of the circumferential part in a slanted direction against the bottom part ( 22 ) and dividing the inside of the circumferential part ( 21 ) into a first space proximal to the bottom part ( 22 ) and a second space apart from the bottom part ( 22 ), and a connection part ( 213 ) which connects the first space with the second space being provided at a portion of the partition board ( 211 ) closest to the bottom part ( 22 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the national phase under 35 U. S. C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2014/053992 which has an International filing date of Feb. 20, 2014 and designated the United States of America. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a lid which captures a foreign substance and to a method of capturing a foreign substance. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A technology exists which removes a foreign substance from a liquid crystal material (see, WO2012/176681 for example). A liquid crystal dropping device according to Patent Document 1 filters and removes a foreign substance contained in a liquid crystal material by a filter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In the case of the liquid crystal dropping device according to Patent Document 1, if a filter is clogged, a foreign substance cannot be filtered from a liquid crystal material through the filter. In order for the liquid crystal dropping device to continuously operate, the filter needs to be changed, which lowers the work efficiency. 
         [0005]    The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a lid capable of capturing a foreign substance from a liquid crystal material in advance before the liquid crystal material is used, and to provide a method of capturing a foreign substance. 
         [0006]    A lid according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a lid comprising a circumferential part having a tubular shape and a bottom part closing an opening at one end of the circumferential part, the circumferential part being placed over a tubular part having an opening of a container formed at the container containing a liquid crystal material, and the bottom part covering the tubular part, the lid further comprises a partition board provided at an inner surface of the circumferential part in a slanted direction against the bottom part and dividing an inside of the circumferential part into a first space proximal to the bottom part and a second space apart from the bottom part; and a connection part connecting the first space with the second space, the connection part being provided at a portion of the partition board, the portion being closest to the bottom part. 
         [0007]    The lid according to the embodiment of the present invention has a bottomed cylindrical shape covering a tubular part having an opening of a container which contains a liquid crystal material. The lid includes a circumferential part which has a tubular shape and a bottom part which closes an opening at one end of the circumferential part. A partition board is provided on the inner surface of the circumferential part in a slanted direction against the bottom part. The partition board divides the inside of the circumferential part into a first space proximal to the bottom part and a second space apart from the bottom part. At a portion of the partition board which is closest to the bottom part, a connection part is provided which connects the first space with the second space. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, in the case where the lid is attached to the container which contains the liquid crystal material including a foreign substance and the container is so inverted that the attached lid is located at a lower side with respect to the container, a foreign substance with a specific gravity larger than that of the liquid crystal material may be captured in the first space. 
         [0009]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the partition board may has a shape of a funnel recessed toward the bottom part with the connection part being a center. 
         [0010]    In the lid according to the embodiment of the present invention, the partition board may has the shape of a funnel with the connection part being the center, and may be recessed toward the bottom part. 
         [0011]    This causes foreign substances sinking in the liquid crystal material to be collected at the connection part and efficiently captured in the first space. 
         [0012]    In the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the connection part is provided near the circumferential part. 
         [0013]    In the lid according to the embodiment of the present invention, the connection part is provided near the circumferential part. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, in the case where the container is turned upside down so as to remove the foreign substances captured in the lid, inverse flow of the foreign substances from the lid to the container may be prevented by selecting the direction of inversion. 
         [0015]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the lid may further comprise an extension part extending inward from the circumferential part within the first space at the portion of the partition board, the portion being closest to the bottom part, wherein the connection part is provided at the extension part. 
         [0016]    In the lid according to the embodiment of the present invention, an extension part extending inward from the circumferential part within the first space may be provided at the portion of the partition board which is closest to the bottom part. The connection part may be provided at the extension part. 
         [0017]    Accordingly, the connection part may be provided so as to make connection through the partition board and the extension part while winding, and an opening of the connection part proximal the first space is provided on the inner side wall of the extension part, which can effectively prevent foreign substances from flowing backward from the lid to the container when the container is turned upside down. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the connection part is a through hole or a slit. 
         [0019]    In the lid according to the embodiment of the present invention, the connection part is a through hole or a slit. 
         [0020]    This causes foreign substances sinking in the liquid crystal material to be collected in the through hole or slit and efficiently captured in the first space. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom part may be configured to be detachable from the circumferential part. 
         [0022]    In the lid according to the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom part may be configured to be detachable from the circumferential part. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, in the case where a foreign substance is captured in the lid, the lid may be detached from the container and the bottom part of the lid detached from the container is removed from the circumferential part so as to easily discard the foreign substance captured in the lid. 
         [0024]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom part may have a bottomed cylindrical shape, the circumferential part may have a cylindrical shape, and the bottom part may be configured to be detachable by an inner circumference on an opening edge of the bottom part being screwed with an outer circumference at one end part of the circumferential part. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom part may has a cylindrical shape with a closed bottom and the circumferential part may has a cylindrical shape without a closed bottom. In the embodiment, the inner circumference on the opening edge of the bottom part is screwed with the outer circumference of one end part of the circumferential part, so that the bottom part may be attached to and detached from the circumferential part. 
         [0026]    This allows the bottom part to rotate with respect to the circumferential part so as to be easily detached from the circumferential part. 
         [0027]    A method according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a method of capturing a foreign substance contained in a liquid crystal material in the container by the lid as described above attached to the tubular part of the container, in the container is inverted so that the attached lid is located at a lower side with respect to the container, and a foreign substance sinking in the liquid crystal material is moved along the partition board, is introduced into the first space through the connection part and is captured in the first space. 
         [0028]    In the method of capturing a foreign substance according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lid as described above is used to capture a foreign substance included in the liquid crystal material within the container. The container is inverted so that the attached lid is located at the lower side with respect to the container. The foreign substance sinking in the liquid crystal material is moved to the connection part along the partition board, passes through the connection part and is captured in the first space. 
         [0029]    Accordingly, a foreign substance with a specific gravity larger than that of the liquid crystal material may be captured in the first space of the lid. 
         [0030]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the container may be vibrated in a case where the container is inverted. 
         [0031]    In the method of capturing a foreign substance according to the embodiment of the present invention, the container may be vibrated if inverted. 
         [0032]    This allows the foreign substance to be peeled off from the inner wall of the container in the case where the foreign substance sinking in the liquid crystal material is adhered to the inner wall of the container. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the inverted container may be returned to a posture before inversion while a posture of the lid is so maintained that an opening proximal to the second space of the connection part in the lid is located higher than the opening proximal to the first space. 
         [0034]    In the method of capturing the foreign substance according to the embodiment of the present invention, the inverted container may be returned to the posture before inversion. Here, the posture of the lid is so maintained that the opening proximal to the second space of the connection part in the lid is located higher than the opening proximal to the first space. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, in the case where the inverted container is returned to the posture before inversion, the foreign substance captured in the first space may be prevented from flowing backward to the second space due to the effect of gravity. 
       Effect of the Invention 
       [0036]    With the lid and the method of capturing a foreign substance according to the embodiment of the present invention, a foreign substance may be captured from a liquid crystal material in advance before the liquid crystal material is used. 
         [0037]    The above and further objects and features will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a liquid crystal bottle and a lid. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a vertical section view of the lid. 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the lid. 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the lid. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates the outline of the procedure of the method of capturing a foreign substance. 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the movement of the foreign substance to the hollow part in the liquid crystal bottle and the lid in the inverted state. 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates the movement of the foreign substance in the hollow part. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0045]    A container and a lid according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating the same. A liquid crystal material is contained in the container. The container has an opening for injecting the liquid crystal material into itself and for taking out the injected liquid crystal material. The lid is to close the opening of the container. When the lid is opened or closed for using the liquid crystal material in the container, or when defoaming is carried out for evacuating the air from the liquid crystal material in the container, a foreign substance may possibly be mixed into the liquid crystal material within the container. Moreover, a foreign substance may also be mixed into the liquid crystal material at the time of collecting the liquid crystal material remaining at the bottom of the container. The lid has a function of capturing the foreign substance mixed into the liquid crystal material. 
         [0046]      FIG. 1  illustrates a liquid crystal bottle  10  and a lid  20 .  FIG. 1  is a side view of the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20 . The liquid crystal bottle  10  is an example of the container which contains a liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal bottle  10  is made of, for example, glass. The height of the liquid crystal bottle  10  is, for example, 20 cm. 
         [0047]    The lower and middle parts of the liquid crystal bottle  10  form a bottomed cylindrical shape. The upper part of the liquid crystal bottle  10  includes a shoulder part  11  and a bottle opening  12 . The shoulder part  11  has a shape narrowing toward the upper side, and has an arc shape which is bulged in a diagonally upward direction in a side view. The bottle opening  12  has a cylindrical shape and is provided in the middle at the upper side of the shoulder part  11 . A helical male thread is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the bottle opening  12 . 
         [0048]    The liquid crystal material contained in the liquid crystal bottle  10  may include a foreign substance  30 . The foreign substance  30  has a specific gravity larger than the specific gravity of the liquid crystal material, i.e. 0.98-1.01. The foreign substance  30  is, for example, polyvinyl chloride (1.16-1.58), acrylic resin (1.17-1.28), nylon (registered trademark) (1.07-1.42), or phenol resin (1.21-1.30). The numeric values in the parentheses indicate the specific gravity. The specific gravity here is a ratio of the density of a substance to the density of distilled water at 4 degrees Celsius. The size of the foreign substance  30  is, for example, 10 to 500 μm. 
         [0049]    Since the specific gravity of the foreign substance  30  is larger than the specific gravity of the liquid crystal material, the foreign substance  30  is located near the bottom of the liquid crystal bottle  10  in  FIG. 1 . It is noted that the foreign substance  30  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is exaggerated in its size. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  is a vertical section view of the lid  20 . The lid  20  is a member for covering the bottle opening  12  of the liquid crystal bottle  10  and is made of synthetic resin, for example. The lid  20  has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape. The lid  20  includes a side wall part (circumferential part)  21  and a bottom wall part (bottom part)  22 . The side wall part  21  has a cylindrical shape, which internally includes a structure for capturing a foreign substance mixed into the liquid crystal material. The side wall part  21  and the bottom wall part  22  are configured to be detachable. 
         [0051]    The bottom wall part  22  has a flat-bottomed cylindrical shape. The bottom wall part  22  has a side wall  221  and a bottom wall  222 . The side wall  221  has a cylindrical shape. The height of the side wall  221  is lower than the height of the side wall part  21 . The outer diameter of the side wall  221  is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the side wall part  21 . The outer diameter of the upper part of the side wall part  21  is, however, slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the side wall  221 . Furthermore, the height of the upper part of the side wall part  21  with the slightly smaller outer diameter is slightly higher than the height of the side wall  221 . Thus, in the case where the side wall part  21  and the bottom wall part  22  are connected with each other, a ring-like groove is formed in the lid  20 , in appearance, between the side wall  221  and the side wall part  21  thereunder. 
         [0052]    The bottom wall  222  has the shape of a circular disc, and constitutes the ceiling of the bottom wall part  22 . 
         [0053]    The side wall part  21  includes a partition board  211 . The partition board  211  is provided on the inner wall surface of the side wall part  21  in a slanted direction against a plane defined by the end of the side wall part  21  or the bottom wall  222  of the bottom wall part  22 . At the upper part of the lid  20  in  FIG. 2 , a hollow part (first space)  212  is formed which is defined by the partition board  211 , the side wall part  21  and the bottom wall  222  of the bottom wall part  22 . 
         [0054]    In the space between the bottom wall  222  and the portion of the partition board  211  which is closest to the bottom wall  222 , an extension part  214  is provided which extends from the portion of the partition board  211  and the inner surface of the side wall part  21  toward the bottom wall  222  and toward the inner side, respectively (see  FIG. 3 ). A through hole  213  is formed in the portion of the partition board  211  which is closest to the bottom wall  222  and in the extension part  214 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the through hole  213  has a function of connecting the hollow part  212  above the partition board  211  with the space (second space) below the partition board  211 . In the cross-section in  FIG. 2 , the through hole  213  has the shape of an inverted J. In  FIG. 2 , the opening at the lower side in the through hole  213  is opened toward the lower direction (see  FIG. 4 ). In  FIG. 2 , the opening at the upper side in the through hole  213  is opened toward the hollow part  212  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0055]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the lid  20  from one side.  FIG. 3  illustrates the lid  20  in the state where the side wall part  21  is separated from the bottom wall part  22 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the inside of the side wall part  21  seen from one diagonal side while a part of the side wall part  21  is broken. A helical female thread is formed on the lower inner surface of the side wall part  21 . By the male thread of the bottle opening  12  at the liquid crystal bottle  10  being screwed to or unscrewed from the female thread of the lid  20 , the lid  20  is attached to or detached from the bottle opening  12  of the liquid crystal bottle  10 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the lid  20  from another side.  FIG. 4  illustrates the lid  20  in the state where the lid  20  as shown in  FIG. 3  is inverted and the side wall part  21  is separated from the bottom wall part  22 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the inside of the side wall part  21  seen from another diagonal side while a part of the side wall part  21  is broken. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the side wall  221  of the bottom wall part  22 . A helical male thread is formed on the upper outer surface of the side wall part  21 . By the female thread of the bottom wall part  22  being screwed to or unscrewed from the male thread of the side wall part  21 , the bottom wall part  22  is attached to or detached from one end of the side wall part  21 . 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 4  where the side wall part  21  in  FIG. 3  is inverted, the surface of the partition board  211  has a curved surface which is warped downward. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , any part of the surface of the partition board  211  has the shape of a funnel inclined toward the through hole  213 . As such, the partition board  211  is recessed downward in  FIG. 4  and is bulged upward in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    Next, the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are used to describe a method of capturing a foreign substance  30  mixed into the liquid crystal material. In the description below, the foreign substance  30  is captured in the hollow part  212  of the lid  20 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  illustrates the outline of the procedure of the method of capturing a foreign substance. The arrows in  FIG. 5  indicate the order of the procedure. First, the liquid crystal bottle  10  containing a liquid crystal material is prepared. The lid  20  is attached to the bottle opening  12  of the liquid crystal bottle  10  in the state where the bottle opening  12  is located at the upper side. The liquid crystal bottle  10  with the lid  20  attached thereto is inverted, and is left for half a day, for example. 
         [0060]    Next, the liquid crystal bottle  10  with the lid  20  attached thereto is turned upside down. The lid  20  is detached from the liquid crystal bottle  10 . This ensures the foreign substance  30  to be removed from the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal bottle  10 . 
         [0061]    The bottom wall part  22  of the lid  20  which is detached from the liquid crystal bottle  10  is further detached from the side wall part  21  of the lid  20 . The foreign substance  30  stored in the hollow part  212  of the lid  20  is discarded. In the case where the foreign substance  30  is discarded, the lid  20  may be reused after washing. 
         [0062]    In a period during which the foreign substance  30  sinks in the liquid crystal material and moves to the hollow part  212 , the foreign substance  30  may possibly be adhered to the inner surfaces of the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20 . Possible portions on the inner surfaces of the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  to which the foreign substance  30  is adhered include the shoulder part  11  of the liquid crystal bottle  10 , the surface of the partition board  211  and the inner surface of the through hole  213 . Thus, in order for the foreign substance  30  not to be adhered to the inner surface of the liquid crystal bottle  10  or the lid  20 , or to peel off the foreign substance  30  adhered to the inner surface of the liquid crystal bottle  10  or the lid  20 , the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are vibrated while the liquid crystal bottle  10  with the lid  20  attached thereto is inverted and left. The method of vibrating the liquid crystal bottle  10  is carried out, for example, by the use of ultrasonic. 
         [0063]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the movement of the foreign substance  30  to the hollow part  212  in the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  in the inverted state. The foreign substance  30  mixed into the liquid crystal material sinks to the lower part of the liquid crystal bottle  10  due to the effect of the gravity. The foreign substance  30  which sinks in the liquid crystal material to the partition board  211  moves to the opening of the through hole  213  along the inclined direction of the partition board  211 . The foreign substance  30  passes through the through hole  213  having the J-shape in  FIG. 6 , and is captured in the hollow part  212 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 7  illustrates the movement of the foreign substance  30  in the hollow part  212 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the movement of the foreign substance  30  from the upper part of the hollow part  212  to the lower part of the hollow part  212  due to the effect of the gravity in the case where the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are turned upside down from the inverted state. The foreign substance  30  moved to the lower portion of the hollow part  212  is collected in the recess at the lower portion of the hollow part  212 . 
         [0065]    In the case where the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are returned from the inverted state to the state before inversion which is turned upside down, the foreign substance  30  once captured in the hollow part  212  may inadvertently pass through the through hole  213  together with the liquid crystal material and may possibly flow back to the liquid crystal bottle  10 . In the case where the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are returned from the inverted state to the state before inversion, the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are made to stand in the state where the opening of the through hole  213  proximal to the liquid crystal bottle  10  is located above the opening of the through hole  213  proximal to the hollow part  212 . 
         [0066]    This can prevent the foreign substance  30  from flowing backward to the liquid crystal bottle  10  from the hollow part  212 . For that purpose, a mark indicating the direction in which the through hole  213  is formed with respect to the center of the lid  20  or a relative position of the through hole  213  in the lid  20  may be put at, for example, a portion on the outer circumferential surface of the side wall part  21 . When the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are returned back to the state before inversion, the liquid crystal bottle  10  and the lid  20  are turned upside down so that the side with the mark faces upward. 
         [0067]    According to the present embodiment, the bottle opening  12  of the liquid crystal bottle  10  is closed by the lid  20 . The lid  20  may, however, also close a container which contains a substance other than the liquid crystal material. That is, the lid  20  may also be utilized to capture, from a solution contained in the container, a foreign substance with a specific gravity larger than that of the solution. 
         [0068]    According to the present embodiment, the partition board  211  has the shape of a funnel. The partition board  211  may however be a flat plate extending in a slanted direction against the bottom wall  222 . 
         [0069]    According to the present embodiment, the through hole  213  serves as the connection part for connecting the hollow part  212  with the space inside the liquid crystal bottle  10 . The connection part may, however, be a slit formed by enlarging the through hole  213  along the inner circumferential surface of the side wall part  21 . 
         [0070]    According to the present embodiment, the through hole  213  may be formed at the circumferential part of the partition board  211 . 
         [0071]    According to the present embodiment, the bottom wall part  22  has a bottomed cylindrical shape. However, the bottom wall part  22  may alternatively have the shape of a circular disc. In such a case, the structure for fixing the bottom wall part  22  with the side wall part  21  may employ a fixing structure other than screwing with a male thread and a female thread. For example, the structure for fixing the bottom wall part  22  with the side wall part  21  may be the same as the fixing structure of a Tupperware (registered trademark) in which a lid is fixed to the container while a groove formed at the lid is engaged with a edge of the container. 
         [0072]    Alternatively, the bottom wall part  22  may have the shape of a cylinder. In such a case, the structure for fixing the bottom wall part  22  with the side wall part  21  may be realized, for example, by fitting the bottom wall part  22  to the inner surface of the side wall part  21 . 
         [0073]    According to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal bottle  10  is inverted in order to capture the foreign substance  30  in the lid  20 . However, a centrifugal separator may be used for capturing the foreign substance  30  in the lid  20 . The centrifugal separator is driven while the liquid crystal bottle  10  is set to the centrifugal separator so that the centrifugal force is applied to the liquid crystal bottle  10  in the direction of the lid  20 . This applies the centrifugal force of 1G or larger to the liquid crystal material and the foreign substance  30 , and therefore the time for capturing the foreign substance  30  in the lid  20  may be shortened. 
         [0074]    According to the lid  20 , a foreign substance  30  may be captured from the liquid crystal material in advance before the liquid crystal material is used. 
         [0075]    Due to the effect of the gravity, the foreign substance  30  which sinks in the liquid crystal material is collected in the through hole  213  of the lid  20  and is captured from the through hole  213  into the hollow part  212  of the lid  20 . Thereafter, the lid  20  is detached from the liquid crystal bottle  10  to reliably remove the foreign substance  30  from the liquid crystal material. 
         [0076]    It is to be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0077]    It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. Since the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims. 
         [0078]    The technical features (components) described in each example embodiment may be combined with one another, and such combinations may form new technical features.