Plasma display panel manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method

An apparatus for manufacturing a plasma display panel having an inside and comprising a joining chamber that forms a plasma display panel by joining a front substrate and a rear substrate by heating a low-melting-point glass and a gas introduction and sealing chamber which introduces a luminescent gas into said plasma display panel which is formed by said joining chamber via a gas introduction port provided in said front substrate or said rear substrate, and seals said gas introduction port, said manufacturing apparatus further comprising:

• a first mechanism for supplying a cover member formed by a metal sheet to which low-melting-point glass is applied to a first location within said gas introduction and sealing chamber,
• a second mechanism provided in said gas introduction and sealing chamber for moving said cover member from said first location to a second location which is over a heating apparatus,
• a third mechanism provided in said gas introduction and sealing chamber for performing vacuum exhausting the inside of said plasma display panel and introducing a luminescent gas into said plasma display panel, and
• a fourth mechanism provided in said gas introduction and sealing chamber for heating said metal sheet to which said low-melting-point glass is applied by using said heating apparatus, so that said gas introduction port is sealed by said low-melting-point glass,
• wherein said third mechanism in said gas introduction and sealing chamber is adapted to perform vacuum exhausting, at least, before said fourth mechanism in said gas introduction and sealing chamber is used to melt said low-melting-point glass,
• wherein a first member movable up and down disposed within said gas introduction and sealing chamber, and a second member movable up and down which is surrounded by said first member are provided, said fourth mechanism is provided on said second member, and said third mechanism is provided in said first member.