CN105668233B - Buffer device - Google Patents

Abstract

The buffering device of the present invention comprises: a conveying device connected between the upstream and downstream production facilities, receiving the conveyed object from the upstream production facility and sending the conveyed object to the downstream production facility; a buffer device branched from a buffer position on the conveying device, receiving the conveyed object from the buffer position and storing the conveyed object; a detection device for detecting the conveying condition and the storage condition of the conveyed object; and a control device for controlling the operations of the conveying device and the buffer device according to the detection result of the detection device, conveying the conveyed object at the buffer position to the downstream production equipment when the conveyed object is judged to be at the buffer position and the downstream production equipment can receive the conveyed object, and conveying the conveyed object at the buffer position to the buffer device when the conveyed object is judged to be at the buffer position, the downstream production equipment cannot receive the conveyed object and the buffer device has a free space. The buffer device can enable production devices with different productivities connected with each other to fully exert the performance.

Description

Buffer device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a buffer device.

Background

With the increasing popularity of electronic devices such as tablet computers and smart phones, the manufacturing technology of optical display screens, which are one of the key components of electronic devices, has received more and more attention.

Conventionally, a bonding apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an RTP bonding apparatus) of a method (a Roll to Panel method, an RTP method) of cutting an optical film into optical film pieces having a predetermined length while feeding the optical film from a Roll and bonding the cut optical film pieces to an optical unit is widely known. As shown in fig. 21, the RTP pasting apparatus 2 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 are conventionally provided in two separate production lines. In the production system, the optical panel is conveyed from the RTP attaching equipment 2 to the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 by workers by using conveying equipment, so that manpower and material resources are wasted, and the overall production efficiency of the production system is greatly influenced.

Therefore, in recent years, a built-in apparatus has been proposed in which an RTP pasting apparatus and an optical display manufacturing apparatus are continuously connected. That is, the RTP bonding apparatus acquires the optical unit to manufacture the optical panel, and automatically conveys the manufactured optical panel to the optical display manufacturing apparatus in the downstream process.

However, since the productivity of the RTP bonding apparatus and the optical display manufacturing apparatus is generally different, and particularly, the productivity of the RTP bonding apparatus is much higher than that of the optical display manufacturing apparatus in the downstream process, if the RTP bonding apparatus and the optical display manufacturing apparatus are directly connected, the tact time of the RTP bonding apparatus must be reduced, and the performance of the RTP bonding apparatus cannot be sufficiently exhibited. Therefore, a technique capable of solving this problem is urgently required.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a buffer facility capable of sufficiently exhibiting the performance of each of two production facilities connected to each other, which have different productivities.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a buffer facility which is provided between an upstream production facility and a downstream production facility and constitutes a continuous production line together with the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, comprising: a transport device connected between the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, receiving the transported object from the upstream production facility and sending the transported object to the downstream production facility; a buffer device branched from a buffer position on the conveying device, and capable of receiving the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position and storing the conveyed object; a detection device for detecting the conveying condition of the conveyed object on the conveying device and the downstream production equipment and the storage condition of the conveyed object in the buffer device; a control device connected with the conveying device, the buffer device and the detection device and controlling the actions of the conveying device and the buffer device according to the detection result of the detection device; the control device performs control to convey the object at the buffer position to the downstream production equipment when it is determined that the object is present at the buffer position and the downstream production equipment can receive the object, and performs control to convey the object at the buffer position to the buffer device when it is determined that the object is present at the buffer position, the downstream production equipment cannot receive the object, and the buffer device has a free space.

According to this aspect, when the object to be transported from the upstream production facility to the buffer position of the transport device cannot be transported to the downstream production facility in time, the control device automatically moves the object to be transported, which cannot be transported in time, from the buffer position to the buffer device to leave the buffer position, in the case where the upstream production facility with relatively high productivity and the downstream production facility with relatively low productivity are connected by the buffer device, and therefore, the production can be continued without stopping the operation of the upstream production facility, and the respective performances of the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility can be sufficiently exhibited.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying device includes a plurality of conveying units which are provided in series in a conveying direction of the object to be conveyed and which operate independently of each other, and the control device performs control to convey the object to be conveyed on the upstream conveying unit to the downstream conveying unit when it is confirmed from the detection result that the object to be conveyed exists on the upstream conveying unit and the object to be conveyed does not exist on the downstream conveying unit of the two adjacent conveying units.

According to this aspect, during conveyance, the object on the upstream conveyance unit is conveyed to the downstream conveyance unit only when the detection device confirms that the object is not present on the downstream conveyance unit, and therefore, collision of the objects with each other can be effectively avoided.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device is capable of transporting the stored objects to the buffer position, and the control device controls the transport of the objects from the buffer device to the transport unit at the buffer position when it is confirmed that the objects are not present in the transport unit at the buffer position and the previous transport unit adjacent to the transport unit based on the detection result of the detection device, the objects are present in the buffer device, and the downstream production facility is capable of receiving the objects.

According to this aspect, when the conveyed material in the upstream cannot be conveyed to the buffer position in time, the conveyed material in the buffer device can be sent to the buffer position and further conveyed to the downstream production facility for use by the downstream production facility, and therefore, the performance of the downstream production facility can be fully exerted.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying unit at the buffer position has a forward conveying mechanism that receives the conveyed object from the adjacent preceding conveying unit and conveys the conveyed object to the downstream production apparatus, a buffer conveying mechanism that conveys the conveyed object between the buffer position and the buffer device, and a first switching mechanism that switches the forward conveying mechanism and the buffer conveying mechanism.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the buffer position can be realized by a simple structure.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the forward conveying mechanism includes: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the buffer conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of buffer conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the buffer conveying rollers to rotate in an interlocking manner; the buffer conveying roller is positioned below the forward conveying roller and is arranged to intersect with the forward conveying roller, the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller is positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameter of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller is larger than that of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller, the first switching mechanism switches to conveying the conveyed object by the buffer conveying mechanism by enabling the forward conveying roller to descend relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than that of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller, and switches to conveying the conveyed object by the forward conveying mechanism by enabling the forward conveying roller to ascend relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than that of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the buffer position can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device has a first conveying unit and a first main unit, and the first main unit and the buffer conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the buffer positions are respectively located at both ends in the conveying direction of the first conveying unit.

According to this configuration, the conveyed material at the buffer position can be conveyed to the first main storage unit by the first conveying unit to be ready for use.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first transport unit includes a first frame, a plurality of first transport rollers rotatably mounted on the first frame in parallel with each other, and a drive unit configured to drive the plurality of first transport rollers to rotate in association with each other.

According to this aspect, the conveying function of the first conveying unit can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first main unit has: the first main storage box body is provided with two side walls arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of supporting plates are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, and the plurality of supporting plates on each side wall are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the first main storage box body lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first main storage box body and drives the first main storage box body to lift.

According to this aspect, the first main memory unit can be formed into a layered structure by the support plate, thereby avoiding an excessively large area in which the first main memory unit is disposed.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device further has a first auxiliary storage unit between the buffer conveyance mechanism of the conveyance unit at the buffer position and the first main storage unit.

According to this aspect, when the first main storage unit is filled with the objects and the empty first main storage unit needs to be replaced, the objects from the buffer position can be stored in the first auxiliary storage unit, and therefore, the continuous operation of the production line including the upstream production facility, the buffer facility, and the downstream production facility can be ensured.

Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first subsidiary storage unit has: a first auxiliary storage frame which is provided with two groups of upright posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two groups of upright posts, wherein a plurality of supporting arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two groups of upright posts, and in each group of upright posts, the plurality of supporting arms of each upright post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first auxiliary storage frame and drives the first auxiliary storage frame to lift.

According to this aspect, the first auxiliary storage unit can be formed in a layered structure by the support arm formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large area in which the first auxiliary storage unit is disposed.

In addition, preferably, the buffering apparatus further includes: a quality inspection device for inspecting the quality of the conveyed object conveyed by the conveying device; a removing device which is branched from a removing position on the conveying device, is positioned at the downstream of the quality inspection device, and receives the conveyed object from the removing position; the control device controls the feeding of the transported object at the removing position to the removing device when the transported object judged as a defective object by the quality inspection device reaches the removing position and the removing device has a free space.

According to the scheme, unqualified products in the conveyed objects can be removed according to the inspection result of the quality inspection device, and the conveyed objects conveyed to the downstream production equipment are all qualified products.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the transport unit at the reject position includes a forward transport mechanism that receives the transported object from the adjacent preceding transport unit and transports the transported object to the adjacent succeeding transport unit, a reject transport mechanism that transports the transported object from the reject position to the reject device, and a second switching mechanism that switches between the forward transport mechanism and the reject transport mechanism.

According to this scheme, the transport switching function at the reject position can be realized by a simple structure.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the forward conveying mechanism includes: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the removing and conveying mechanism is provided with: mounting a bracket; a plurality of reject conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of rejecting conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the second switching mechanism switches to conveying the object to be conveyed by the rejecting conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the rejecting conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the rejecting conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object to be conveyed by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the rejecting conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the rejecting conveying roller.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the reject position can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the rejection device has a second conveying unit and a second main unit, and the second main unit and the rejection conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the rejection positions are respectively located at both ends in the conveying direction of the second conveying unit.

According to this configuration, the second transport unit can transport the defective objects from the reject position to the second main storage unit and collect the defective objects.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second conveyance unit includes a second frame, a plurality of second conveyance rollers rotatably mounted on the second frame in parallel with each other, and a driving unit configured to drive the plurality of second conveyance rollers to rotate in association with each other.

According to this aspect, the conveying function of the second conveying unit can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second main unit has: a second main storage box body which is provided with two side walls arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, wherein a plurality of supporting plates are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, and the plurality of supporting plates on each side wall are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the second main storage box body lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second main storage box body and drives the second main storage box body to lift.

According to this aspect, the second storage unit can be formed in a layered structure by the support plate formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large second storage unit installation area.

In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, preferably, the rejection device further has a second sub-storage unit between the rejection conveying mechanism of the conveying unit located at the rejection position and the second main storage unit.

According to this aspect, when the second main storage unit is filled with the objects and the empty second main storage unit needs to be replaced, the objects from the removal position can be stored in the second auxiliary storage unit, and therefore, the continuous operation of the production line including the upstream production facility, the buffer facility, and the downstream production facility can be ensured.

Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second subsidiary memory unit has: a second auxiliary storage frame which is provided with two groups of upright posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two groups of upright posts, wherein a plurality of supporting arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two groups of upright posts, and the supporting arms of each upright post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each group of upright posts; and the second auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second auxiliary storage frame and drives the second auxiliary storage frame to lift.

According to this aspect, the second auxiliary storage unit can be formed into a layered structure by the support arm formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large second auxiliary storage unit installation area.

In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device further includes a sample transport device that takes out the transported object from the buffer device, and a sample placement device that places the transported object taken out by the sample transport device.

According to this aspect, the specimen transport device can randomly take the transported object from the buffer device as a specimen for visual inspection by the worker. In the case where the extracted conveyed material is found to be less than expected (for example, defective) by visual inspection, the operator can adjust the quality inspection apparatus according to the inspection result. Therefore, the quality of the conveyed material conveyed to the downstream production facility can be ensured.

In addition to the above-described buffer facility, a second aspect of the present invention provides a buffer facility which is provided between an upstream production facility and a downstream production facility to constitute a continuous production line together with the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, comprising: a transport device provided downstream in a transport direction of the upstream production facility, receiving the transported object from the upstream production facility and transporting the transported object downstream in the transport direction; a transfer conveyor provided between the conveyor and the downstream production facility, the transfer conveyor conveying the conveyed object from the buffer position on the conveyor to the downstream production facility; a buffer device branched from the buffer position, capable of receiving the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position and storing the conveyed object; the detection device detects the conveying condition of the conveyed object on the conveying device, the transfer conveying device and the downstream production equipment and the storage condition of the conveyed object in the buffer device; a control device which is connected with the conveying device, the transfer conveying device, the buffer device and the detection device and controls the actions of the conveying device, the transfer conveying device and the buffer device according to the detection result of the detection device; the control device controls the transfer conveyor to receive the conveyed object at the buffer position when judging that the conveyed object is present at the buffer position and the conveyed object is not present on the transfer conveyor according to the detection result, controls the transfer conveyor to transport the conveyed object on the transfer conveyor to the downstream production equipment when judging that the conveyed object is present on the transfer conveyor and the downstream production equipment can receive the conveyed object, and controls the transfer conveyor to transport the conveyed object at the buffer position to the buffer device when judging that the conveyed object is present on the buffer position and the transfer conveyor and the buffer device has a free space.

According to this aspect, when the upstream production facility with relatively high productivity and the downstream production facility with relatively low productivity are connected by the buffer facility, and the transported object transported from the upstream production facility to the buffer position of the transport device cannot be transported to the downstream production facility by the relay transport device in time, the control device automatically causes the transported object that cannot be transported in time to enter the buffer device from the buffer position and leave the buffer position, and therefore, the production can be continued without stopping the operation of the upstream production facility, and the respective performances of the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility can be sufficiently exhibited.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying device includes a plurality of conveying units which are provided in series in a conveying direction of the object and which operate independently of each other, and the control device performs control to convey the object on the upstream conveying unit to the downstream conveying unit when it is confirmed from the detection result that the object is present on the upstream conveying unit and the object is not present on the downstream conveying unit of the adjacent two conveying units.

According to this aspect, during conveyance, the object on the upstream conveyance unit is conveyed to the downstream conveyance unit only when the detection device confirms that the object is not present on the downstream conveyance unit, and therefore, collision of the objects with each other can be effectively avoided.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device is capable of conveying the stored objects to the buffer position, and the control device controls the object to be conveyed from the buffer device to the conveying unit at the buffer position when the object is not present in the conveying unit at the buffer position, the preceding conveying unit adjacent to the conveying unit, and the relay conveying device, and the object is present in the buffer device, based on the detection result of the detection device.

According to this aspect, when the conveyed material in the upstream cannot be conveyed to the buffer position in time, the conveyed material in the buffer device can be sent to the buffer position and further conveyed to the downstream production facility for use by the downstream production facility, and therefore, the performance of the downstream production facility can be fully exerted.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying unit at the buffer position has a forward conveying mechanism that receives the conveyed object from the adjacent preceding conveying unit, a buffer conveying mechanism that conveys the conveyed object between the buffer position and the buffer device, and a first switching mechanism that switches the forward conveying mechanism and the buffer conveying mechanism.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the buffer position can be realized by a simple structure.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the forward conveying mechanism includes: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the buffer conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of buffer conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the buffer conveying rollers to rotate in an interlocking manner; the buffer conveying roller is positioned below the forward conveying roller and is arranged to intersect with the forward conveying roller, the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller is positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameter of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller is larger than that of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller, the first switching mechanism switches to conveying the conveyed object by the buffer conveying mechanism by enabling the forward conveying roller to descend relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than that of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller, and switches to conveying the conveyed object by the forward conveying mechanism by enabling the forward conveying roller to ascend relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than that of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the buffer position can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device has a first conveying unit and a first main unit, and the first main unit and the buffer conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the buffer positions are respectively located at both ends in the conveying direction of the first conveying unit.

According to this configuration, the conveyed material at the buffer position can be conveyed to the first main storage unit by the first conveying unit to be ready for use.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first conveyance unit includes a first carriage, a plurality of first conveyance rollers rotatably mounted on the first carriage in parallel with each other, and a drive unit configured to drive the plurality of first conveyance rollers to rotate in association with each other.

According to this aspect, the conveying function of the first conveying unit can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first main unit has: the first main storage box body is provided with two side walls arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of supporting plates are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, and the plurality of supporting plates on each side wall are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the first main storage box body lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first main storage box body and drives the first main storage box body to lift.

According to this aspect, the first main memory unit can be formed in a layered structure by the support plate, thereby avoiding an excessively large area in which the first main memory unit is disposed.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device further has a first auxiliary storage unit between the buffer conveying mechanism of the conveying unit at the buffer position and the first main storage unit.

According to this aspect, when the first main storage unit is filled with the objects and the empty first main storage unit needs to be replaced, the objects from the buffer position can be stored in the first auxiliary storage unit, and therefore, the continuous operation of the production line including the upstream production facility, the buffer facility, and the downstream production facility can be ensured.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first subsidiary storage unit has: a first auxiliary storage frame which is provided with two groups of upright posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two groups of upright posts, wherein a plurality of supporting arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two groups of upright posts, and in each group of upright posts, the plurality of supporting arms of each upright post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first auxiliary storage frame and drives the first auxiliary storage frame to lift.

According to this aspect, the first auxiliary storage unit can be formed in a layered structure by the support arm formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large area in which the first auxiliary storage unit is disposed.

In addition, preferably, the buffering apparatus further includes: a quality inspection device for inspecting the quality of the conveyed object conveyed by the conveying device; a removing device which is branched from a removing position on the conveying device, is positioned at the downstream of the quality inspection device and at the upstream of the buffer position, and receives the conveyed object from the removing position; the control device controls the conveyed objects at the rejecting position to be conveyed to the rejecting device when the conveyed objects judged as defective by the quality inspection device reach the rejecting position and the rejecting device has a free space according to the detection result of the detection device.

According to the scheme, unqualified products in the conveyed objects can be removed according to the inspection result of the quality inspection device, and the conveyed objects conveyed to the downstream production equipment are all qualified products.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the transport unit at the reject position includes a forward transport mechanism that receives the transported object from the adjacent preceding transport unit and transports the transported object to the adjacent succeeding transport unit, a reject transport mechanism that transports the transported object from the reject position to the reject device, and a second switching mechanism that switches between the forward transport mechanism and the reject transport mechanism.

According to this scheme, the transport switching function at the reject position can be realized by a simple structure.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the forward conveying mechanism includes: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the removing and conveying mechanism is provided with: mounting a bracket; a plurality of reject conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of rejecting conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner; the second switching mechanism switches to conveying the object to be conveyed by the rejecting conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the rejecting conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the rejecting conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object to be conveyed by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the rejecting conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the rejecting conveying roller.

According to this aspect, the conveyance switching function at the reject position can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the rejection device has a second conveying unit and a second main unit, and the second main unit and the rejection conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the rejection positions are respectively located at both ends in the conveying direction of the second conveying unit.

According to this configuration, the second transport unit can transport the defective objects from the reject position to the second main storage unit and collect the defective objects.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second conveyance unit includes a second frame, a plurality of second conveyance rollers rotatably mounted on the second frame in parallel with each other, and a driving unit configured to drive the plurality of second conveyance rollers to rotate in association with each other.

According to this aspect, the conveying function of the second conveying unit can be realized using the low-cost roller conveyor, and therefore the cost of the entire buffer device can be reduced.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second main unit has: a second main storage box body which is provided with two side walls arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, wherein a plurality of supporting plates are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, and the plurality of supporting plates on each side wall are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction; and the second main storage box body lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second main storage box body and drives the second main storage box body to lift.

According to this aspect, the second storage unit can be formed in a layered structure by the support plate formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large second storage unit installation area.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the eliminating device further has a second sub-storage unit between the eliminating conveying mechanism of the conveying unit located at the eliminating position and the second main storage unit.

According to this aspect, when the second main storage unit is filled with the objects and the empty second main storage unit needs to be replaced, the objects from the buffer position can be stored in the second auxiliary storage unit, and therefore, the continuous operation of the production line including the upstream production facility, the buffer facility, and the downstream production facility can be ensured.

In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second subsidiary memory unit has: a second auxiliary storage frame which is provided with two groups of upright posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two groups of upright posts, wherein a plurality of supporting arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two groups of upright posts, and the supporting arms of each upright post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each group of upright posts; and the second auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second auxiliary storage frame and drives the second auxiliary storage frame to lift.

According to this aspect, the second auxiliary storage unit can be formed into a layered structure by the support arm formation, thereby avoiding an excessively large second auxiliary storage unit installation area.

In the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the buffer device further includes a sample transport device that takes out the transported object from the buffer device, and a sample placement device that places the transported object taken out by the sample transport device.

According to this aspect, the specimen transport device can randomly take the transported object from the buffer device as a specimen for visual inspection by the worker. In the case where the extracted conveyed material is found to be less than expected (for example, defective) by visual inspection, the operator can adjust the quality inspection apparatus according to the inspection result. Therefore, the quality of the conveyed material conveyed to the downstream production facility can be ensured.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a buffer device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a buffer device of embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) are front views schematically showing a conveying device in a buffer facility according to embodiment 1, in which fig. 3(a) shows a state in which a conveyed object is conveyed by a forward conveying mechanism, fig. 3(b) shows a state in which the conveyed object is switched to be conveyed by a buffer conveying mechanism, and fig. 3(c) shows a state in which the conveyed object is switched to be conveyed by a reject conveying mechanism.

Fig. 4(a) and 4(B) are a sectional view a-a and a sectional view B-B, respectively, of the transport apparatus shown in fig. 3(a), fig. 4(c) is a sectional view a '-a' of the transport apparatus shown in fig. 3(B), and fig. 4(d) is a sectional view B '-B' of the transport apparatus shown in fig. 3 (c).

Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a buffer device in the buffer device of example 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view schematically showing the shock absorbing device shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a portion of the first main storage unit storing the objects in the buffer device shown in fig. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a portion of the first sub-memory unit in the buffer device shown in fig. 5 and 6, in which the objects are stored.

Fig. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a removing device in the buffer device of example 1.

Fig. 10 is a side view schematically showing the removing device shown in fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a portion of the second main storage unit storing the objects in the removing device shown in fig. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a portion of the second sub-memory unit in the removing device shown in fig. 9 and 10, in which the objects are stored.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a control method of the buffer device of embodiment 1.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing another control method of the buffer device of embodiment 1.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view schematically showing a buffer device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a plan view schematically showing a buffer device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing a control method of a buffer device of embodiment 2.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing another control method of the buffer device of embodiment 2.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing still another control method of the buffer device of embodiment 2.

Fig. 20 is a schematic view showing an optical unit manufacturing line constituted by an optical unit manufacturing apparatus and a continuous manufacturing line constituted by an RTP attaching apparatus, a buffering apparatus, and an optical display screen manufacturing apparatus.

Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional production system configured by an optical unit manufacturing apparatus, an RTP pasting apparatus, and an optical display panel manufacturing apparatus in three independent production lines.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Note that, in the following description, the buffer device 3 having the optical panel P as the transported object, which is provided between the RTP attaching device 2 and the optical display manufacturing device 4, will be described as an example, but it should be understood that the application of the buffer device 3 is not limited thereto, and it may be provided between any two upstream and downstream production devices as necessary to form a continuous production line together with the upstream and downstream production devices, and transport the transported object (such as an outer package of a product) manufactured by the upstream production device to the downstream production device.

Fig. 20 shows an optical unit manufacturing line constituted by the optical unit manufacturing apparatus and an optical display screen continuous production line to which the buffer apparatus 3 is applied. The continuous production line shown in fig. 20 is formed by connecting RTP pasting equipment 2, buffer equipment 3, and optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 in series in this order.

The optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1 is an apparatus in which an array substrate and a counter substrate are bonded together via a sealing member to constitute a unit substrate, and after, for example, liquid crystal is injected into a gap between the array substrate and the counter substrate, a predetermined pressure is applied from the outside in the opposing direction of the array substrate and the counter substrate to uniformly distribute the injected liquid crystal between the array substrate and the counter substrate, thereby forming an optical unit U.

The RTP bonding apparatus 2 is an apparatus that is provided downstream of the optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1 and bonds optical films to the surfaces of the optical units U manufactured by the optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1 to manufacture the optical panels P, and includes a conveying device 20, an optical unit supply device 29, a first optical film supply device 21, a first optical film bonding device 22, an optical unit turning device 23, a first optical film bonding position measuring device 24, a second optical film supply device 25, a second optical film bonding device 26, an optical panel turning device 27, and a second optical film bonding position measuring device 28.

The optical unit supplying device 29 is a device for storing the optical unit U manufactured by the optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1 and supplying the optical unit U to the transporting device 20, and includes a main tank storing the optical unit U and a transporting mechanism for transporting the optical unit U from the main tank to the transporting device 20.

The transport device 20 is connected between the transport mechanism of the optical unit feeder 29 and the transport start position of the buffer device 3 (transport start position of the transport device 30), and transports the optical unit U from the main storage box of the optical unit feeder 29 from upstream to downstream and transports the optical panel P manufactured by the optical unit U to the buffer device 3. The conveying device 20 may be various conveying devices commonly used in the art, and preferably a roller conveyor composed of a plurality of conveying rollers arranged with their axes parallel to each other is used.

The first optical film sheet supply device 21 is for supplying the first optical film sheet to the first optical film sheet bonding device 22, and includes a first optical film supply device 210, a first optical film cutting device 211, and a first carrier film winding device 212. The first optical film supply apparatus 210 is provided with a laminate roll R1 in which optical films are laminated on a tape-shaped carrier film via an adhesive layer. In the bonding process, the first optical film supply device 210 sequentially discharges the laminate from the laminate roll by the carrier film winding action of the first carrier film winding device 212. The first optical film cutting device 211 forms a first optical film sheet with an adhesive layer having a predetermined length by processing a cut-in line in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical film on the optical film side of the laminate. The first optical film sheet is fed to the first optical film sheet laminating apparatus 22 together with the carrier film by the carrier film winding action of the first carrier film winding apparatus 212.

In the case where the first optical film sheet with an adhesive layer having a predetermined length is already formed on the laminate roll R1 used in advance, the first optical film supply device 210 may directly feed the laminate fed out from the laminate roll R1 to the first optical film sheet bonding device 22.

The first optical film laminating apparatus 22 detects the respective positions of the first optical film from the first optical film supply apparatus 21 and the optical unit U conveyed by the conveying apparatus 20, and calibrates the positions of the first optical film and the optical unit U based on the detected information. After the alignment process is completed, the peeled first optical film sheet is bonded to one surface of the optical unit U at the bonding section while the first optical film sheet is peeled from the carrier film together with the adhesive layer by the peeling section by winding the carrier film by the first carrier film winding apparatus 212 of the first optical film sheet supply apparatus 21.

The optical unit turning and reversing device 23 is provided downstream of the first optical film laminating device 22.

The optical unit turning and reversing device 23 can turn the optical unit U to which the first optical film is attached from the first optical film attaching device 22 by 90 ° around an axis perpendicular to the surface of the optical unit U, thereby reversing the positional relationship between the long side and the short side of the optical unit U.

In other words, if it is assumed that the short side of the optical unit U is along the transport direction and the long side of the optical unit U is along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction before the rotation, the short side of the optical unit U is along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction and the long side of the optical unit U is along the transport direction after the rotation.

The optical unit turning device 23 can turn over the optical unit U to which the first optical film is bonded when the optical unit U completes the rotation. Specifically, the optical unit U is rotated by 180 ° about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, or the optical unit U is rotated by 180 ° about an axis parallel to the short-side direction.

In other words, if the surface of the optical unit U to which the first optical film is attached faces downward before being turned over, the surface of the optical unit U to which the first optical film is not attached faces downward after being turned over.

The first optical film bonding position measuring device 24 is provided downstream of the optical unit turning device 23, and measures the bonding position of the first optical film on the surface of the optical unit U. The first optical film bonding position measuring device 24 may be provided upstream of the optical unit turning device 23.

The second optical film sheet supply device 25 is for supplying the second optical film sheet to the second optical film sheet bonding device 26, and includes a second optical film supply device 250, a second optical film cutting device 251, and a second carrier film winding device 252. The second optical film supply apparatus 250 is provided with a laminate roll R2 in which optical films are laminated on a tape-shaped carrier film via an adhesive layer. In the bonding process, the second optical film supply device 250 sequentially discharges the laminate from the laminate roll by the carrier film winding action of the second carrier film winding device 252. The second optical film cutting device 251 forms a second optical film sheet with an adhesive layer having a predetermined length by processing a cut-in line in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical film on the optical film side of the laminate. The second optical film sheet is fed to the second optical film sheet laminating apparatus 26 together with the carrier film by the carrier film winding action of the second carrier film winding apparatus 252.

In the case where the second optical film sheet with an adhesive layer having a predetermined length is already formed on the laminate roll R2 used in advance, the second optical film supply device 250 may directly feed the laminate discharged from the laminate roll R2 to the second optical film sheet bonding device 26.

The second optical film laminating apparatus 26 detects the respective positions of the second optical film from the second optical film supply apparatus 25 and the optical unit U conveyed by the conveying apparatus 20, and calibrates the positions of the second optical film and the optical unit U based on the detected information. After the alignment process is completed, the peeled second optical film sheet is bonded to the other surface of the optical unit U at the bonding section while the second optical film sheet is peeled from the carrier film together with the adhesive layer by the peeling section by winding the carrier film by the second carrier film winding apparatus 252 of the second optical film sheet supply apparatus 25.

The optical panel inverting device 27 is provided downstream of the second optical film laminating device 26, and inverts the optical panel P formed by laminating the first optical film and the second optical film on the front and back surfaces of the optical unit U from the second optical film laminating device 26. Specifically, the optical panel P is rotated by 180 ° about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, or the optical panel P is rotated by 180 ° about an axis parallel to the short-side direction.

A second optical film attaching position measuring device 28 is provided downstream of the optical panel reversing device 27, and measures the attaching position of the second optical film on the surface of the optical unit U.

The buffer device 3 is provided between the RTP attaching device 2 and the optical display manufacturing device 4, and receives the optical panel P from the RTP attaching device 2 and sends the optical panel P to the optical display manufacturing device 4. Details of the buffer device 3 will be described later.

The optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 is provided downstream of the buffer apparatus 3, and manufactures an optical display using the optical panel P conveyed from the RTP pasting apparatus 2 via the buffer apparatus 3.

The RTP attaching apparatus 2, the buffering apparatus 3 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 constitute a continuous production line for downstream equipment using upstream equipment products.

Hereinafter, the buffer device 3 according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

< example 1>

[ concrete Structure of the buffer device 3]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a buffer device 3 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the buffer device 3 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the buffer device 3 in embodiment 1 includes a conveying device 30, a quality inspection device 32, a label bonding device 33, a buffer device 34, a removing device 35, a sample conveying device 36, a sample mounting device 37, a detection device (not shown), and a control device (not shown).

Referring also to fig. 20, the transport device 30 is connected between the RTP bonding apparatus 2 as an upstream production apparatus and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 as a downstream production apparatus, receives the optical panel P as a transported object from the RTP bonding apparatus 2, and sends the optical panel P to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4. Specifically, the transport device 30 is connected between a transport end position of the transport device 20 of the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and a transport start position of a transport device (not shown) of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, receives the optical panel P from the transport end position of the transport device 20 of the RTP bonding apparatus 2, and sends the optical panel P to the transport start position of the transport device of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4.

The transport device 30 includes a quality inspection position a, a label application position B, a removal position C, and a buffer position D in this order from upstream to downstream. The quality inspection position A and the label pasting position B, the label pasting position B and the rejection position C, and the rejection position C and the buffer position D are adjacent to each other. Further, the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 is located downstream of and adjacent to the buffer position D. Thereby, the overall length of the buffer device 3 can be shortened.

As shown in fig. 2, the transport device 30 includes a plurality of transport units 300 …, and a plurality of transport units 300 … are provided in series along the transport direction (the left-right direction in the drawing) of the optical panels P to form a continuous transport path of the optical panels P. The plurality of conveyance units 300 … each have a corresponding drive source (described in detail below), and are driven individually by the respective drive sources and operate independently.

The conveyance unit 300 may be any known conveyance device or conveyance apparatus as long as the conveyance function can be achieved. In the present embodiment, a roller conveyor may be used as the conveying unit 300.

As shown in fig. 2, each of the conveying units 300 has a mounting bracket 3000, a plurality of forward conveying rollers 3001 …, and a driving portion 3002 as the above-described driving source, respectively.

The forward conveying roller 3001 has a roller shaft 300s and a plurality of conveying rollers 300r …. The roller shafts 300s are rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket 3000 in parallel with each other via bearings, not shown, and may be metal rod-shaped members. The plurality of conveying rollers 300r … are inserted through the roller shaft 300s at intervals in the extending direction of the roller shaft 300s, and are rotatable together with the roller shaft 300 s. The conveying roller 300r may be a wheel roller made of resin, or a wheel roller made of a metal body covered with a material such as resin on the outer circumferential side thereof.

The driving unit 3002 is mounted on the mounting bracket 3000, and includes a motor for supplying power and a linking member for linking the rotational movement of the roller shafts 300s … of the plurality of forward conveying rollers 3001 …. During operation, the motor transmits power to the roller shafts 300s … of the respective forward conveying rollers 3001 … via the interlocking member, and drives the roller shafts 300s … of the respective forward conveying rollers 3001 … to rotate in an interlocking manner.

The mounting bracket 3000, the plurality of forward conveying rollers 3001 …, and the driving unit 3002 serving as a driving source together constitute a forward conveying mechanism of each conveying unit 300. In the forward conveying mechanism, the forward conveying mechanism of the conveying unit 300 at the conveyance direction start position receives the optical panel P from the conveyance end position of the conveying device 20 of the RTP pasting apparatus 2, the forward conveying mechanism of the conveying unit 300 at the conveyance direction end position conveys the optical panel P to the conveyance start position of the conveying device of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and the forward conveying mechanism of the remaining conveying unit 300 … between the conveyance start position and the conveyance end position receives the optical panel P from the adjacent previous conveying unit 300 and conveys the optical panel P to the adjacent next conveying unit 300.

As shown in fig. 3 a to 3 c and 4 a to 4D, the conveying unit 300 at the buffer position D of the conveying device 30 includes a buffer conveying mechanism (see reference numerals 3003, 3004, and 3005) and a first switching mechanism (not shown) in addition to the forward conveying mechanism.

The buffer conveyance mechanism is for conveying the optical panel P between the conveyance unit 300 and the buffer device 34 at the buffer position D, and has a mounting bracket 3003, a plurality of buffer conveyance rollers 3004 …, and a driving portion 3005.

The mounting bracket 3003 of the buffer conveyor is below the mounting bracket 3000 of the forward conveyor.

The buffer conveyance roller 3004 is disposed below the forward conveyance roller 3001 so as to intersect with (e.g., be orthogonal to) the forward conveyance roller 3001, and includes a roller shaft 300p and a plurality of conveyance rollers 300q …. The roller shafts 300p are rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket 3003 in parallel with each other via bearings, not shown, and may be metal rod-shaped members. The plurality of conveying rollers 300q … are inserted through the roller shaft 300p at intervals in the extending direction of the roller shaft 300p, and are rotatable together with the roller shaft 300 p. The plurality of conveying rollers 300q … of the buffer conveying roller 3004 are positioned between the adjacent two forward conveying rollers 3001,3001, and can enter and exit the nip space defined by the adjacent two forward conveying rollers 3001,3001. Further, the diameter of the conveying roller 300q of the buffer conveying roller 3004 is larger than the diameter of the conveying roller 300r of the forward conveying roller 3001, so that the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller can be surely lower than the top of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller when the forward conveying mechanism is lowered by a predetermined height. The conveying roller 300q may be a resin wheel roller, or a wheel roller in which a material such as resin is wrapped around the outer periphery of a metal body.

The driving unit 3005 is mounted on the mounting bracket 3003, and includes a motor for supplying power and a linking member for linking the rotational operations of the roller shafts 300p … of the buffer conveyance rollers 3004 …. During operation, the motor transmits power to the roller shafts 300p … of the buffer conveyance rollers 3004 … via the interlocking member, and drives the roller shafts 300p … of the buffer conveyance rollers 3004 … to rotate in an interlocking manner.

The first switching mechanism switches between the forward transport mechanism and the buffer transport mechanism, and switches between transporting the optical panel P by the buffer transport mechanism by lowering the forward transport roller 3001 … relative to the buffer transport roller 3004 … until the top of the transport roller 300r … of the forward transport roller 3001 … is lower than the top of the transport roller 300q … of the buffer transport roller 3004 …, and switches between transporting the optical panel P by the forward transport mechanism by raising the forward transport roller relative to the buffer transport roller until the top of the transport roller 300r … of the forward transport roller is higher than the top of the transport roller 300q … of the buffer transport roller.

In the present embodiment 1, the first switching mechanism includes a base provided below the mounting bracket 3000 of the forward conveying mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder provided upright between the base and the mounting bracket 3000 and connected to the hydraulic circuit, one of a cylinder tube and a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder being attached to the base, and the other being connected to a lower portion of the mounting bracket 3000, and the forward conveying roller 3001 … being raised relative to the cushion conveying roller 3004 … by, on the one hand, retracting the piston rod into the cylinder tube by discharging hydraulic oil to the hydraulic circuit and lowering the forward conveying roller 3001 … relative to the cushion conveying roller 3004 … and, on the other hand, extending the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit. Instead of the hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder may be used.

As shown in fig. 3 a to 3C and 4 a to 4 d, the transport unit 300 at the reject position C of the transport device 30 includes a reject transport mechanism (see reference numerals 3006, 3007, and 3008) and a second switching mechanism (not shown) in addition to the forward transport mechanism.

The reject conveyance mechanism is for conveying the optical panel P from the conveyance unit 300 at the reject position C into the reject device 35, and has a mounting bracket 3006, a plurality of reject conveyance rollers 3007 …, and a driving portion 3008.

The reject conveyor mount 3006 is below the forward conveyor mount 3000.

The reject conveyance roller 3007 is disposed below the forward conveyance roller 3001 so as to intersect with (e.g., be orthogonal to) the forward conveyance roller 3001, and includes a roller shaft 300t and a plurality of conveyance rollers 300u …. The roller shafts 300t are rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket 3006 in parallel with each other via bearings, not shown, and may be metal rod-shaped members. The plurality of conveying rollers 300u … are inserted through the roller shaft 300t at intervals in the extending direction of the roller shaft 300t, and are rotatable together with the roller shaft 300 t. The plurality of conveying rollers 300u … of the reject conveying roller 3007 are positioned between the adjacent two forward conveying rollers 3001,3001, and can enter and exit the nip space defined by the adjacent two forward conveying rollers 3001,3001. Further, the diameter of the conveying roller 300u of the reject conveying roller 3007 is larger than the diameter of the conveying roller 300r of the forward conveying roller 3001, so that the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller can be surely lower than the top of the conveying roller of the reject conveying roller when the forward conveying mechanism is lowered by a predetermined height. The conveying roller 300u may be a resin wheel roller, or a wheel roller in which a material such as resin is wrapped around the outer periphery of a metal body.

The driving unit 3008 is mounted on the mounting bracket 3006, and includes a motor for supplying power and a linking member for linking the rotational movement of the roller shafts 300t … of the plurality of reject conveyance rollers 3007 …. During operation, the motor transmits power to the roller shafts 300t … of the respective reject conveyance rollers 3007 … via the interlocking member, and drives the roller shafts 300t … of the respective reject conveyance rollers 3007 … to rotate in an interlocking manner.

The second switching mechanism is for switching between the forward transport mechanism and the reject transport mechanism, and switches between transporting the optical panel P by the reject transport mechanism by lowering the forward transport roller 3001 … relative to the reject transport roller 3007 … until the top of the transport roller 300r … of the forward transport roller 3001 … is lower than the top of the transport roller 300u … of the reject transport roller 3007 …, and switches between transporting the optical panel P by the forward transport mechanism by raising the forward transport roller relative to the reject transport roller until the top of the transport roller 300r … of the forward transport roller is higher than the top of the transport roller 300u … of the reject transport roller.

In embodiment 1, the second switching mechanism includes a base provided below the mounting bracket 3000 of the forward conveying mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder provided upright between the base and the mounting bracket 3000 and connected to the hydraulic circuit, one of a cylinder tube and a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder being attached to the base, and the other being connected to a lower portion of the mounting bracket 3000, and the forward conveying roller 3001 … being raised relative to the reject conveying roller 3007 … by retracting the piston rod into the cylinder tube by hydraulic oil discharged to the hydraulic circuit and lowering the forward conveying roller 3001 … relative to the reject conveying roller 3007 … and by extending the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit. Instead of the hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder may be used.

The quality inspection device 32 is provided at the quality inspection position a located upstream of the rejection position C, is connected to the control device, and is configured to inspect the quality of the optical panel P passing through the quality inspection position a under the control of the control device and to transmit the inspection result to the control device.

The label application device 33 is disposed at a label application position B of the conveyor 30 between the quality inspection position a and the rejection position C, and is connected to the control device for applying a label onto the optical panel P passing through the label application position B under the control of the control device.

The buffer device 34 branches off from the buffer position D on the transport device 30, and can receive the optical panel P from the transport device from the buffer transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D of the transport device 30 and store the received optical panel P, and can also transport the optical panel P stored inside thereof to the buffer transport mechanism (the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D).

Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the damper device 34 in the damper facility 3 according to example 1, and fig. 6 is a side view schematically showing the damper device 34 shown in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the buffer device 34 mainly includes a first transport unit 340, a first main storage unit 341, and a first subsidiary storage unit 342.

One end of the first conveying unit 340 in the conveying direction is continuously disposed with the buffer conveying mechanism, and the other end in the conveying direction extends into the first main storage unit 341, that is, the first main storage unit 341 and the buffer conveying mechanism are respectively located at two ends of the first conveying unit 340 in the conveying direction. The first transport unit 340 can receive the optical panel P from the buffer transport mechanism at one end in the transport direction, transport the optical panel P to the other end in the transport direction, store the optical panel P in the first main storage unit 341, receive the optical panel P from the first main storage unit 341 at the other end in the transport direction, transport the optical panel P to one end in the transport direction, and transport the optical panel P to the buffer transport mechanism (transport unit 300 at the buffer position D).

The first conveying unit 340 may be any known conveying device or conveying apparatus as long as the conveying function can be achieved. For example, a roller conveyor may be used as the first conveying unit 340.

When the first conveying unit 340 is a roller conveyor, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the first conveying unit 340 includes a first support 3400, a plurality of first conveying rollers 3401 …, and a driving portion 3402.

The first support 3400 includes a wide-width portion 340w having a relatively wide width and a narrow-width portion 340v having a relatively narrow width, one end in the conveying direction of the wide-width portion 340w is continuously provided with the buffer conveying mechanism, the other end in the conveying direction is connected to one end in the conveying direction of the narrow-width portion 340v, and the narrow-width portion 340v protrudes into the internal space of the first main storage unit 341 as a whole.

The first conveying roller 3401 has a roller shaft 340s and a plurality of conveying rollers 340r …. The roller shafts 340s are rotatably mounted on the first support 3400 in parallel with each other via bearings, not shown, and may be metal rod-shaped members. The plurality of conveyance rollers 340r … are inserted through the roller shaft 340s at intervals in the direction in which the roller shaft 340s extends, and are rotatable together with the roller shaft 340 s. The conveying roller 340r may be a wheel roller made of resin, or may be a wheel roller made of a metal body covered with a material such as resin on the outer circumferential side thereof.

The driving unit 3402 is attached to the first carriage 3400, and includes a motor for supplying power and a link member for linking the rotational operation of the roller shafts 340s … of the plurality of first conveying rollers 3401 …. During operation, the motor transmits power to the roller shaft 340s of each first conveying roller 3401 via the interlocking member, and drives the roller shaft 340s of each first conveying roller 3401 to rotate in an interlocking manner.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the general structure of a portion of the first main memory unit 341 that stores the optical panel P in the buffer device 34 of example 1.

The first main storage unit 341 is for storing the optical panel P, and includes, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, a first main storage housing 3410 and a first main storage housing lifting mechanism 3411.

The first main tank 3410 is formed as a tank having an open front end and includes two side walls 341a and 341b spaced from each other in the left-right direction, a bottom wall 341c connecting the two side walls 341a and 341b to each other at the bottom, a top wall 341d connecting the two side walls 341a and 341b to each other at the top, and a rear wall 341e closing the rear end of the accommodation space defined by the two side walls 341a and 341b, the bottom wall 341c, and the top wall 341 d. Further, the side wall 341a is provided with support plates 341f at a plurality of positions spaced apart in the up-down direction on the inner side thereof, the side wall 341b is provided with support plates 341g at a plurality of positions spaced apart in the up-down direction on the inner side thereof, and the support plates 341f,341g of the two side walls 341a,341b at the same height position in the up-down direction form a panel support portion for placing the optical panel P. In this way, the first main tank 3410 has a layered structure having a plurality of panel support portions in the vertical direction inside. Further, openings may be formed in the side walls 341a,341 b. This can reduce the weight of first main tank 3410.

The first main tank lifting mechanism 3411 is attached to a lower portion of the bottom wall 341c of the first main tank 3410, and drives the first main tank 3410 to be lifted.

In embodiment 1, first main-tank lifting mechanism 3411 includes base 341h, hydraulic cylinder 341i, and a hydraulic circuit (not shown). The base 341h is disposed below the bottom wall 341c of the first main tank 3410. The hydraulic cylinder 341i is vertically provided between the base 341h and the bottom wall 341c and connected to the hydraulic circuit. One of the cylinder tube and the piston rod of the cylinder 341i is attached to the base 341h, and the other is connected to the lower portion of the bottom wall 341 c. The hydraulic cylinder 341i retracts the piston rod into the cylinder tube by discharging hydraulic oil to the hydraulic circuit to lower the first main tank 3410, and extends the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit to raise the first main tank 3410. Note that, instead of the hydraulic cylinder 341i, an air cylinder may be used.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing the general structure of a portion of the first sub storage unit 342 storing the optical panel P in the buffer device 34 of example 1.

The first auxiliary storage unit 342 is located between the conveying unit at the buffer position of the conveying device 30 and the first main storage unit 341, that is, at a position halfway between both ends of the first conveying unit 340. The first sub storage unit 342 can receive and store the optical panel P from the first transporting unit 340, and can also send out the stored optical panel P to the first transporting unit 340. As shown in fig. 6 and 8, the first auxiliary storage unit 342 includes a first auxiliary storage frame 3420 and a first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism 3421.

The first storage sub frame 3420 has two sets of columns 342a …,342b … arranged at a left-right interval and a bottom wall 342c connecting the two sets of columns 342a …,342b … at the bottom, each column 342a of the one set of columns 342a … is provided upright between the adjacent two first conveying rollers 3401,3401 on the left inner side of the wide-width portion 340w of the first bracket 3400 of the first conveying unit 340, each column 342b of the other set of columns 342b … is provided upright between the adjacent two first conveying rollers 3401,3401 on the right inner side of the wide-width portion 340w, and the bottom wall 342c is located below the wide-width portion 340 w. In addition, each upright 342a of the one set of uprights 342a … is provided at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the up-down direction on the inner side thereof with a lateral support arm 341f, each upright 342b of the other set of uprights 342b … is provided at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the up-down direction on the inner side thereof with a lateral support arm 341g, and the support plates 341f,341g of the two sets of uprights 342a …,342b … at the same height position in the up-down direction form a panel support portion for placing the optical panel P. Thus, the first sub storage frame 3420 is formed in a layered structure having a plurality of panel support portions in the up-down direction inside thereof.

The first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism 3421 is installed at the lower portion of the bottom wall 342c of the first auxiliary storage frame 3420, and drives the first auxiliary storage frame 3420 to lift.

In this embodiment 1, the first auxiliary storage frame elevating mechanism 3421 includes a base 342h, a hydraulic cylinder 342i, and a hydraulic circuit (not shown). The base 342h is disposed below the bottom wall 342c of the first sub frame 3420. The hydraulic cylinder 342i is vertically disposed between the base 342h and the bottom wall 342c and connected to the hydraulic circuit. One of the cylinder tube and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 342i is attached to the base 342h, and the other is connected to the lower portion of the bottom wall 342 c. The hydraulic cylinder 342i retracts the piston rod into the cylinder tube by hydraulic oil discharged to the hydraulic circuit to lower the first auxiliary storage frame 3420, and extends the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit to raise the first auxiliary storage frame 3420. Note that an air cylinder may be used instead of the hydraulic cylinder 342 i.

The removing device 35 branches off from the removing position C on the transport device 30, and can receive an optical panel P (for example, a defective optical panel P) from the transport device from the removing transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the removing position C of the transport device 30 and store the received optical panel P.

Fig. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the removing device 35 in the buffer device 3 according to example 1, and fig. 10 is a side view schematically showing the removing device 35 shown in fig. 9.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the removing device 35 mainly includes a second conveying unit 350, a second main storage unit 351, and a second sub storage unit 352.

One end of the second conveying unit 350 in the conveying direction is continuously arranged with the removing conveying mechanism, and the other end in the conveying direction extends into the second main storage unit 351, that is, the second main storage unit 351 and the removing conveying mechanism are respectively arranged at two ends of the second conveying unit 350 in the conveying direction. The second transport unit 350 can receive the optical panel P from the reject transport mechanism at one end in the transport direction, transport the optical panel P to the other end in the transport direction, and store the optical panel P in the second main storage unit 351.

The second conveying unit 350 may be any known conveying device or conveying apparatus as long as the conveying function can be achieved. For example, a roller conveyor may be used as the second conveying unit 350.

When the second conveying unit 350 is a roller conveyor, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the second conveying unit 350 has a second carriage 3500, a plurality of second conveying rollers 3501 …, and a drive unit 3502.

The second rack 3500 includes a wide portion 350w having a relatively wide width and a narrow portion 350v having a relatively narrow width, one end of the wide portion 350w in the conveying direction is continuously provided with the removing and conveying mechanism, the other end in the conveying direction is connected to one end of the narrow portion 350v in the conveying direction, and the narrow portion 350v as a whole extends into the internal space of the second main storage unit 351.

The second conveying roller 3501 has a roller shaft 350s and a plurality of conveying rollers 350r …. The roller shafts 350s are rotatably mounted on the second bracket 3500 in parallel with each other via bearings, not shown, and may be metal rod-shaped members. The plurality of conveying rollers 350r … are inserted through the roller shaft 350s at intervals in the extending direction of the roller shaft 350s, and are rotatable together with the roller shaft 350 s. The conveying roller 350r may be a wheel roller made of resin, or may be a wheel roller made of a metal body covered with a material such as resin on the outer circumferential side thereof.

The driving unit 3502 is mounted on the second carriage 3500, and includes a motor for supplying power and a link member for linking the rotational movement of the roller shafts 350s … of the plurality of second conveying rollers 3501 …. During operation, the motor transmits power to the roller 350s … of each second conveying roller 3501 … via the interlocking member, and drives the roller 350s … of each second conveying roller 3501 … to rotate in an interlocking manner.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing the general configuration of a portion of the second main unit 351 storing the optical panels P in the rejection apparatus 35 of example 1.

The second main memory unit 351 is used to store optical panels P, and includes a second main memory case 3510 and a second main memory case elevating mechanism 3511, as shown in fig. 10 and 11.

The second main tank 3510 includes two side walls 351a,351b provided at a left-right interval, a bottom wall 351c connecting the two side walls 351a,351b at the bottom, a top wall 351d connecting the two side walls 351a,351b at the top, and a rear wall 351e closing the rear end of an internal space surrounded by the two side walls 351a,351b, the bottom wall 351c, and the top wall 351d, and is formed as a tank having an opening at the front end. The side walls 351a and 351b are provided with support plates 351f and 351g respectively at a plurality of positions spaced apart in the vertical direction on the inner side, and the support plates 351f and 351g at the same height positions in the vertical direction of the side walls 351a and 351b form a panel support portion for placing the optical panel P. In this way, the second main tank 3510 has a layered structure having a plurality of panel support portions in the vertical direction inside. Further, openings may be formed in the side walls 351a and 351 b. This can reduce the weight of second main tank 3510.

The second main tank lifting mechanism 3511 is installed at a lower portion of the bottom wall 351c of the second main tank 3510, and drives the second main tank 3510 to be lifted.

In embodiment 1, second main tank lifting mechanism 3511 includes base 351h, hydraulic cylinder 351i, and a hydraulic circuit (not shown). The base 351h is disposed below the bottom wall 351c of the second main tank 3510. The hydraulic cylinder 351i is vertically provided between the base 351h and the bottom wall 351c and connected to the hydraulic circuit. One of the cylinder tube and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 351i is attached to the base 351h, and the other is connected to the lower portion of the bottom wall 351 c. The hydraulic cylinder 351i retracts the piston rod into the cylinder tube by the hydraulic oil discharged to the hydraulic circuit to lower the second main tank 3510, and extends the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit to raise the second main tank 3510. Note that, instead of the hydraulic cylinder 351i, an air cylinder may be used.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing the general structure of a portion of the second sub-memory unit 352 storing the optical panels P in the eliminating device 35 of example 1.

The second sub-storage unit 352 is located between the conveying unit at the reject position of the conveying device 30 and the second main storage unit 351, i.e., at a position halfway between both ends of the second conveying unit 350. The second sub-storage unit 352 can receive and store the optical panel P from the second feeding unit 350, and can send out the stored optical panel P to the second feeding unit 350. As shown in fig. 10 and 12, the second auxiliary storage unit 352 includes a second auxiliary storage frame 3520 and a second auxiliary storage frame elevating mechanism 3521.

The second storage frame 3520 has two sets of pillars 352a …,352b … arranged at left and right intervals and a bottom wall 352c connecting the two sets of pillars 352a …,352b … at the bottom, each pillar 352a of one set of pillars 352a … is provided upright between two adjacent second conveying rollers 3501,3501 on the left inner side of the wide width portion 350w of the second carriage 3500 of the second conveying unit 350, each pillar 352b of the other set of pillars 352b … is provided upright between two adjacent second conveying rollers 3501,3501 on the right inner side of the wide width portion 350w, and the bottom wall 352c is located below the wide width portion 350 w. Further, each of the columns 352a of the one group of columns 352a … is provided with a lateral support arm 351f at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the vertical direction on the inner side thereof, each of the columns 352b of the other group of columns 352b … is provided with a lateral support arm 351g at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the vertical direction on the inner side thereof, and the support plates 351f,351g of the two groups of columns 352a …,352b … at the same height position in the vertical direction form a panel support portion for placing the optical panel P. Thus, the second storage frame 3520 is formed as a layered structure having a plurality of panel support portions in the vertical direction inside thereof.

The second auxiliary storage frame elevating mechanism 3521 is installed at a lower portion of the bottom wall 352c of the second auxiliary storage frame 3520, and drives the second auxiliary storage frame 3520 to ascend and descend.

In this embodiment 1, the second auxiliary storage frame elevating mechanism 3521 includes a base 352h, a hydraulic cylinder 352i, and a hydraulic circuit (not shown). The base 352h is disposed below the bottom wall 352c of the second storage frame 3520. The hydraulic cylinder 352i is vertically provided between the base 352h and the bottom wall 352c and connected to the hydraulic circuit. One of the cylinder tube and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 352i is attached to the base 352h, and the other is connected to the lower portion of the bottom wall 352 c. The hydraulic cylinder 352i retracts the piston rod into the cylinder tube by hydraulic oil discharged to the hydraulic circuit to lower the second auxiliary storage frame 3520, and extends the piston rod out of the cylinder tube by receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic circuit to raise the second auxiliary storage frame 3520. Note that, instead of the hydraulic cylinder 352i, an air cylinder may be used.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the sample transport device 36 is provided near the buffer device 34, and can take out the optical panel P in the buffer device 34 and transport it to the sample placement device 37. In the sample placement device 37, the worker visually checks the optical panel P taken out. The sample transport device 36 can also feed the optical panel P on the sample placement device 37 into the buffer device 34.

More specifically, the sample transport device 36 can take out the optical panel P from the first transport unit 340 in the buffer device 34 and transport it to the sample loading device 37, and can also transport the optical panel P on the sample loading device 37 to the first transport unit 340 in the buffer device 34.

The sample transport device 36 may be any of various transport devices capable of performing the above-described transport function. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the specimen transport device 36 includes a guide rail 360, a slider 361, a mounting bracket 362, a plurality of suction members 363 …, and a driving unit (not shown). The guide rail 360 extends from above the first conveyance unit 340 to above the sample stage device 37. The slider 361 is slidably provided on the guide rail 360 and can slide in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 360 by the driving of the driving unit. The mounting bracket 362 is slidably mounted on the slider 361 and can slide up and down along the slider 361 by the driving of the driving unit. The plurality of suction members 363 … are mounted on the mounting bracket 362, and connected to the control device to suck up or put down the optical panel P under the control of the control device. The driving unit is connected to the control unit, the slider 361, and the mounting bracket 362, and the slider 361 is driven to slide along the longitudinal direction of the rail 360 or the mounting bracket 362 is driven to slide up and down along the slider 361 under the control of the control unit.

The sample placement device 37 places the optical panel P carried by the sample transport device 36.

The sample placement device 37 may be connected to a control device, and may send the optical panel P to a predetermined position or take the optical panel P from the predetermined position under the control of the control device. In this case, the sample placement device 37 may be any of various known transport devices and transport apparatuses as long as the transport function can be achieved. In the present embodiment, a roller conveyor may be used as the sample-loading device 37.

The detection devices are provided in the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and the buffer apparatus 3 in the respective transport units 300 … of the transport device 30, the first transport unit 340, the first main memory unit 341 and the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second transport unit 350, the second main memory unit 351 and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, and the vicinity of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and detect the respective operation conditions of the RTP bonding apparatus 2, the buffer apparatus 3, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, the transport conditions of the optical panels P on the buffer device 34 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and the storage conditions of the optical panels P in the buffer device 34 and the removal device 35.

Specifically, the detection device: respectively detecting whether the RTP attaching equipment 2, the buffer equipment 3 and the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 are in operation or not as the detection results of the respective operation conditions of the RTP attaching equipment 2, the buffer equipment 3 and the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4; the presence or absence of the optical panel P on each of the conveying units 300 … of the respective conveying devices 30 as a result of detection of the conveyance condition of the optical panel P on the buffer device 34; detecting that no optical panel P is arranged at the conveying starting position of the conveying device of the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 as a conveying condition detection result of the optical panel P on the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4; detecting the presence or absence of the optical panel P and the free space in the first feeding unit 340, the first main storage unit 341 and the first sub storage unit 342 of the buffer device 34, respectively, as a result of the detection of the storage condition of the optical panel P in the buffer device 34; the presence or absence of the optical panel P and the empty space in the second conveying unit 350, the second main memory unit 351 and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removing device 35 are detected as the storage condition detection results of the optical panel P in the removing device 35, respectively.

The detection device is connected to the control device, and transmits the detection result to the control device. The detection device may be any known detection device or detection device as long as the function of detecting the above information can be realized. In the present embodiment, for example, a sensor may be used as the detection means.

The control device is connected to the RTP pasting device 2, the quality inspection device 32, the label pasting device 33, the respective transport units 300 … of the transport device 30, the first transport unit 340, the first main memory unit 341, and the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second transport unit 350, the second main memory unit 351, and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, the sample transport device 36, the sample loading device 37, and the detection device in the buffer device 3, and stores a control program. The control device controls the operations of the quality inspection device 32 and the detection device based on the stored control program, and controls the operations of the RTP pasting apparatus 2, the respective conveyance units 300 … of the conveyance device 30, the label pasting device 33, the first conveyance unit 340, the first main memory unit 341, and the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second conveyance unit 350, the second main memory unit 351, and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, the sample conveyance device 36, and the sample placement device 37 based on the control program, the inspection result (the quality inspection result of the optical panel P) of the quality inspection device 32, and the detection result (the operation condition detection result, the conveyance condition detection result, and the storage condition detection result) of the detection device.

Specifically, the control device mainly performs the following controls:

1) when it is confirmed that the optical panel P is present on the upstream conveying unit 300 and the optical panel P is not present on the downstream conveying unit 300 among two adjacent conveying units 300,300 among the plurality of conveying units 300 … of the buffer device 30 of the buffer apparatus 3 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device operates the forward conveying mechanisms of the two conveying units 300, respectively, to convey the optical panel P on the upstream conveying unit 300 to the downstream conveying unit 300.

2) When it is determined from the detection result of the detection device that the defective optical panel P (defective product) detected by the quality inspection device 32 has reached the transport unit 300 at the removal position C and there is a free space in the removal device 35, the control device stops the forward transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the removal position C, lowers the forward transport roller 3001 … of the forward transport mechanism by the second switching mechanism to switch to the removal transport mechanism, and then operates the removal transport mechanism and the removal device 35 to transport the optical panel P at the removal position to the removal device 35.

3) The control device stops the RTP attaching device 2 and the buffer device 3 when it is determined that the defective optical panel P (defective product) detected by the quality inspection device 32 reaches the conveying unit 300 at the removing position C and there is no empty space in the removing device 35 based on the detection result of the detecting device.

4) When the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can receive the optical panel P, the control device operates the forward transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D to transport the optical panel P on the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D to the transport start position of the transport device of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4.

5) When the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D, the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 cannot receive the optical panel P, and there is a free space in the buffer device 34, the control device stops the forward transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D, lowers the forward transport roller 3001 … of the forward transport mechanism by the first switching mechanism to switch to the buffer transport mechanism, and then operates the buffer transport mechanism and the buffer device 34 to transport the optical panel P at the buffer position to the buffer device 34.

6) The control device stops the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 when the optical panel P is present on the conveying unit 30 at the buffer position D according to the detection result of the detection device, the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 cannot receive the optical panel P, and there is no empty space in the buffer device 34.

7) When the optical panel P is not present on the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D and the previous transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300, and the optical panel P is present in the buffer 34 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can receive the optical panel P, the control device switches the buffer transport mechanism to the buffer transport mechanism by the first switching mechanism, and then operates the buffer transport mechanism and the buffer 34 to transport one optical panel P in the buffer 34 to the buffer position.

8) When the worker issues a command to take out the optical panel P from the buffer device 34 by using the specimen transport device 36, if it is determined that the optical panel P is not stored in the first sub-storage unit 342 of the buffer device 34 and the optical panel P is present on the first transport unit 340 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device controls the specimen transport device 36 to take out the optical panel P from the first transport unit 340 and place the optical panel P on the specimen mounting device 37, and if it is determined that the optical panel P is stored in the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the operation of the specimen transport device 36 is prohibited.

9) When the worker instructs to transport the optical panel P from the specimen mount device 37 to the buffer device 34 by using the specimen transport device 36, if the control device determines that the optical panel P is not stored in the first transport unit 340 and the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device controls the specimen transport device 36 to take out the optical panel P from the specimen mount device 37 and place the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340, and if it determines that the optical panel P is stored in the first transport unit 340 or the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the operation of the specimen transport device 36 is prohibited.

10) When the control device judges that the optical panel P reaches the quality inspection position based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device causes the quality inspection device 32 to inspect the quality of the optical panel P at the quality inspection position.

11) The control device causes the label attaching device 33 to attach a label to a predetermined position on the optical panel P at the label attaching position when it is determined that the optical panel P determined as a non-defective product has reached the label attaching position based on the detection result of the detecting device and the inspection result of the quality inspection device 32, and prohibits the label attaching device 33 from operating when it is determined that the optical panel P at the label attaching position is a defective product.

12) The controller controls the operations of the first switching mechanism, the second switching mechanism, the first main tank lifting mechanism 3411, the first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism 3421, the second main tank lifting mechanism 3511, and the second auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism 3521, and raises or lowers the forward conveying mechanism at the buffering position, the forward conveying mechanism at the removing position, the first main tank 3410, the first auxiliary storage frame 3420, the second main tank 3510, and the second auxiliary storage frame 3520 by a predetermined height.

Among them, in 1) and 2), 2) is preferentially performed. That is, the control device performs control to carry the optical panel P at the removal position into the removal device 35 when it is determined from the detection result that the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 at the removal position C, the optical panel P is not present on the next transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300, and a free space is present in the removal device 35.

In addition, in 1) and 3), 3) is preferentially performed. That is, when the control device determines that the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 at the removal position C, and that there is no optical panel P on the next transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300 and there is no empty space for the removal device 35 based on the detection result, the control device stops the operation of the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 and does not transport the optical panel P at the removal position to the next transport unit 300.

In order to understand the technical solution of embodiment 1 of the present invention more deeply, several control methods of the buffer device 3 in embodiment 1 will be briefly described below.

Note that only a few typical control methods of the buffer device 3 are described below, and the buffer device 3 can be controlled by other methods in addition to these control methods.

[ control method 1 of buffer device 3]

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a control method of the buffer device 3 of embodiment 1.

In step S1, the control device determines whether or not the buffer position of the transport device 30 of the buffer apparatus 3 has the optical panel P based on the detection result of the detection device.

When it is judged in step S1 that the buffer position has the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S2, where it is judged whether or not the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S2 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 does not have the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S3, the optical panel P at the buffer position is conveyed to the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4, and then the flow returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S2 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S4, where it is judged whether or not the optical panel P is present on the first conveyance unit 340.

When it is judged in step S4 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S5, the optical panel P at the buffer position is conveyed to the first conveyance unit 340, and then it returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S4 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S6, where it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S6 that there is a free space in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S7, the optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340 is transported into the first main unit 341, and then the flow proceeds to step S8, and the optical panel P at the buffer position is transported onto the first transporting unit 340.

After step S8 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S6 that there is no free space in the first main storage unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S9, and it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the first subsidiary storage unit 342.

When it is judged in step S9 that there is a free space in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S10, the optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340 is transported into the first sub memory unit 342, and then the flow proceeds to step S11, and the optical panel P at the buffer position is transported onto the first transporting unit 340.

After step S11 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S9 that there is no free space in the first sub-storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S12, where the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 are stopped.

In addition, when it is determined in step S1 that the buffer position does not have the optical panel P, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether or not the reject position has the optical panel P.

When it is determined in step S13 that the optical panel P is present at the reject position, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the optical panel P at the reject position is a non-defective product based on the inspection result of the quality inspection device 32.

When it is judged in step S14 that the optical panel P at the reject position is a non-defective product, the flow proceeds to step S15, the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed to the buffer position, and then the flow returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S14 that the optical panel P at the reject position is not a non-defective product, the flow proceeds to step S16, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350.

When it is judged in step S16 that there is no optical panel P on the second conveyance unit 350, the flow proceeds to step S17, the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed to the second conveyance unit 350, and then it returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S16 that there is an optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350, the flow proceeds to step S18, where it is judged whether there is a free space in the second main unit 351.

When it is judged in step S18 that there is a free space in the second main unit 351, the flow proceeds to step S19, the optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350 is conveyed into the second main unit 351, and thereafter the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed onto the second conveying unit 350.

After step S19 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S18 that there is no free space in the second main memory unit 351, the flow proceeds to step S20, where it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the second sub memory unit 352.

When it is judged in step S20 that there is a free space in the second sub memory unit 352, the flow proceeds to step S21, the optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350 is conveyed into the second sub memory unit 352, and thereafter the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed onto the second conveying unit 350.

After step S21 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S20 that there is no free space in the second auxiliary memory unit 352, the process proceeds to step S22, and the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 are stopped.

In addition, when it is determined in step S13 that there is no optical panel P at the reject position, the flow proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340.

When it is judged in step S23 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S24, where it is judged whether or not the conveying start position of the conveying device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S24 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 does not have the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S25, the optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position, and then, the flow returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S24 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

In addition, when it is determined in step S23 that there is no optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S26, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342.

When it is judged in step S26 that there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S27, where it is judged whether or not the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has an optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S27 that the conveyance start position of the conveying device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 does not have the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S28, the optical panel P is conveyed from the first sub-storage unit 342 onto the first conveying unit 340, and thereafter the optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position. After step S28 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S27 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S26 that there is no optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S29, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S29 that there is no optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341, it stands by.

When it is determined in step S29 that the optical panel P is present in the first main storage unit 341, the process proceeds to step S30, and it is determined whether or not the RTP pasting device 2 stops operating.

When it is determined in step S30 that the RTP pasting apparatus 2 has not stopped operating, the apparatus stands by.

When it is determined in step S30 that the RTP pasting apparatus 2 stops operating, the flow proceeds to step S31, and it is determined whether or not the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S31 that the optical panel P is not present at the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4, the flow proceeds to step S32, the optical panel P is conveyed from the first main storage unit 341 to the first conveyance unit 340, and thereafter the optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position. After step S32 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S31 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

[ control method 2 of buffer device 3]

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing another control method (control method 2) of the buffer device 3 of embodiment 1. Steps S1 to S22 of the control method 2 are the same as steps S1 to S22 of the control method 1, and therefore, regarding the control method 2, only portions different from the control method 1 will be described below.

When it is determined in step S13 that the reject position does not have an optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether or not there is an optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342.

When it is judged in step S23 that there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S24, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S24 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340, the process proceeds to step S25, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first sub storage unit 342 to the first conveyance unit 340.

After step S25 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S24 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S26, where it is judged whether or not the conveying start position of the conveying device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S26 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 does not have the optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S27, the optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position, and then the flow proceeds to step S25, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first sub storage unit 342 to the first conveyance unit 340. After step S25 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S26 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S23 that there is no optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S28, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S28 that the optical panel P is present in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S29, where it is judged whether or not the optical panel P is present on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S29 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S30, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first main storage unit 341 to the first conveyance unit 340.

After step S30 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S29 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S31, where it is judged whether or not the conveying start position of the conveying device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S31 that the optical panel P is not present at the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4, the process proceeds to step S32, the optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position, and then the process proceeds to step S30, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first main storage unit 341 to the first conveyance unit 340. After step S30 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S31 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S28 that there is no optical panel P in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S33, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S33 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, it stands by.

When it is judged in step S33 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S34, where it is judged whether or not the conveying start position of the conveying device of the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P.

When it is judged in step S34 that there is no optical panel P at the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4, the flow proceeds to step S35, where the optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position. After step S35 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S34 that the conveyance start position of the conveyance device of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4 has the optical panel P, it stands by.

[ Effect of operation of the buffer device 3]

According to the technical solution of embodiment 1, when the RTP bonding apparatus 2 with relatively high productivity and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 with relatively low productivity are connected by the buffer apparatus 3, when the optical panel P conveyed from the RTP bonding apparatus 2 to the buffer position of the conveyor 30 cannot be conveyed to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 in time, the control device automatically causes the optical panel P that cannot be conveyed in time to enter the buffer device 34 from the buffer position, thereby leaving the buffer position free, and therefore, the production can be continuously performed without stopping the operation of the RTP bonding apparatus 2, and the respective performances of the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be sufficiently exhibited.

In addition, when the upstream optical panel P cannot be timely conveyed to the buffer position, the optical panel P in the buffer device 34 can be sent to the buffer position and further conveyed to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 to be used by the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be prevented from idling, so that the performance of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be sufficiently exhibited.

In addition, during the conveyance, the optical panels P on the upstream conveyance unit are conveyed to the downstream conveyance unit only when the detection device confirms that there is no optical panel P on the downstream conveyance unit, and therefore, collision between the optical panels P can be effectively avoided.

In addition, defective products in the optical panels P can be removed from the inspection results of the quality inspection device 32, and it is ensured that all the optical panels P conveyed to the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 are defective products.

In addition, the optical panel P can be randomly extracted from the buffer device 34 as a sample by the sample transport device 36 for visual inspection by a worker. In the case where the extracted optical panel P is found to be unexpected (e.g., defective), the worker may adjust the quality inspection device 32 according to the inspection result. Therefore, the quality of the optical panel P conveyed to the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 can be ensured.

< example 2>

In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, only the point where embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 will be explained below.

[ concrete Structure of the buffer device 3]

Fig. 15 is a perspective view schematically showing the damper device 3 of example 2, and fig. 16 is a plan view schematically showing the damper device 3 of example 2.

As shown in fig. 15 and 16, the buffer device 3 in embodiment 2 includes a conveying device 30, a transfer conveying device 31, a quality inspection device 32, a label bonding device 33, a buffer device 34, a rejecting device 35, a sample conveying device 36, a sample loading device 37, a detecting device, and a control device.

The transport device 30 is connected to the downstream side in the transport direction of the RTP bonding apparatus 2, receives the optical panel P from the RTP bonding apparatus 2, and transports the optical panel P to the downstream side in the transport direction. Specifically, the transport device 30 is provided downstream in the transport direction of the transport termination position of the transport device 20 of the RTP pasting apparatus 2, and receives the optical panel P from the transport termination position of the transport device 20 of the RTP pasting apparatus 2.

The relay conveyor 31 is provided between the conveyor 30 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and conveys the optical panel P from the buffer position on the conveyor 30 to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 (specifically, a conveyance start position of the conveyor of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4).

The relay conveyor 31 may be any of various conveyors capable of performing the above-described conveying function. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 15 and 16, the relay transport device 31 includes a guide rail 310, a slider 311, a mounting bracket 312, a plurality of suction members 313 …, and a driving unit (not shown). The guide rail 310 extends from above the buffer position D of the conveyor 30 to above the conveyance start position of the conveyor of the optical display screen manufacturing apparatus 4. The slider 311 is slidably provided on the guide rail 310 and can slide in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 310 by the driving of the driving unit. The mounting bracket 312 is slidably mounted on the slider 311 and can be moved up and down along the slider 311 by the driving of the driving unit. The plurality of suction members 313 … are attached to the mounting bracket 312, and the plurality of suction members 313 … are connected to the control device, so that the optical panel P can be sucked up or put down under the control of the control device. The driving unit is connected to the slider 311, the mounting bracket 312, and the control device, and can drive the slider 311 to slide along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 310 or drive the mounting bracket 312 to slide up and down along the slider 311 under the control of the control device.

The detection device is provided in the vicinity of the optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1, the RTP bonding apparatus 2, the transfer transport device 31, the first transport unit 340, the first main memory unit 341, the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second transport unit 350, the second main memory unit 351, the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, in the transport unit 300 … of the transport device 30, the relay transport device 31, the first transport unit 340 of the buffer device 34, the first main memory unit 341, the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 3, the second main memory unit 351, the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and detects the respective operation conditions of the optical unit manufacturing apparatus 1, the RTP bonding apparatus 2, the buffer device 3, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, the transport conditions of the optical panels P on the buffer device.

Specifically, the detection device: respectively detecting whether the optical unit manufacturing equipment 1, the RTP attaching equipment 2, the buffer equipment 3 and the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 are in operation or not as the detection results of the respective operation conditions of the optical unit manufacturing equipment 1, the RTP attaching equipment 2, the buffer equipment 3 and the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4; the presence or absence of the optical panel P on each of the conveying units 300 … of the respective conveying devices 30 as a result of detection of the conveyance condition of the optical panel P on the buffer device 34; detecting whether the optical panel P is sucked by the plurality of suction members 313 … of the relay transport device 31 as a result of detecting the transport condition of the optical panel P on the relay transport device 31; detecting that no optical panel P is arranged at the conveying starting position of the conveying device of the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4 as a conveying condition detection result of the optical panel P on the optical display screen manufacturing equipment 4; detecting the presence or absence of the optical panel P and the free space in the first feeding unit 340, the first main storage unit 341 and the first sub storage unit 342 of the buffer device 34, respectively, as a result of the detection of the storage condition of the optical panel P in the buffer device 34; the presence or absence of the optical panel P and the empty space in the second conveying unit 350, the second main memory unit 351 and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removing device 35 are detected as the storage condition detection results of the optical panel P in the removing device 35, respectively.

The detection device is connected to the control device, and transmits the detection result to the control device. The detection device may be any known detection device or detection device as long as the function of detecting the above information can be realized. In the present embodiment, for example, a sensor may be used as the detection means.

The control device is connected to the respective transport units 300 …, the relay transport device 31, the quality inspection device 32, the label bonding device 33, the first transport unit 340, the first main memory unit 341, and the first auxiliary memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second transport unit 350, the second main memory unit 351, and the second auxiliary memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, the sample transport device 36, the sample loading device 37, and the detection device of the transport device 30 of the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and the buffer device 3, and stores a control program. The control device controls the operations of the quality inspection device 32 and the detection device based on the stored control program, and controls the operations of the transport units 300 … of the transport device 30, the relay transport device 31, the label bonding device 33, the first transport unit 340, the first main memory unit 341 and the first sub memory unit 342 of the buffer device 34, the second transport unit 350, the second main memory unit 351 and the second sub memory unit 352 of the removal device 35, the sample transport device 36, and the sample placement device 37 of the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and the buffer device 3 based on the inspection result (the quality inspection result of the optical panel P) of the quality inspection device 32 and the detection result (the operation condition detection result, the transport condition detection result, and the storage condition detection result) of the detection device based on the control program.

Specifically, the control device mainly performs the following controls:

1) when it is confirmed that the optical panel P is present on the upstream conveying unit 300 and the optical panel P is not present on the downstream conveying unit 300 among two adjacent conveying units 300,300 among the plurality of conveying units 300 … of the buffer device 30 of the buffer apparatus 3 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device operates the forward conveying mechanisms of the two conveying units 300, respectively, to convey the optical panel P on the upstream conveying unit 300 to the downstream conveying unit 300.

2) When it is determined from the detection result of the detection device that the defective optical panel P (defective product) detected by the quality inspection device 32 has reached the transport unit 300 at the removal position C and there is a free space in the removal device 35, the control device stops the forward transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the removal position C, lowers the forward transport roller 3001 … of the forward transport mechanism by the second switching mechanism to switch to the removal transport mechanism, and then operates the removal transport mechanism and the removal device 35 to transport the optical panel P at the removal position to the removal device 35.

3) The control device operates the RTP attaching device 2 and the buffer device 3 when it is determined that the defective optical panel P (defective product) detected by the quality inspection device 32 reaches the conveying unit 300 at the removing position C and there is no empty space in the removing device 35 based on the detection result of the detecting device.

4) The control device operates the relay conveyor 31 when the optical panel P is present on the conveyor unit 300 at the buffer position D and the optical panel P is not present on the relay conveyor 31 according to the detection result of the detection device, sucks up the optical panel P at the buffer position by the relay conveyor 31, operates the relay conveyor 31 when the optical panel P is present on the relay conveyor 31 and the optical panel manufacturing apparatus 4 can receive the optical panel P, conveys the optical panel P on the relay conveyor 31 to the conveyance start position of the conveyor of the optical panel manufacturing apparatus 4, and maintains the relay conveyor 31 in a state of sucking up the optical panel P when the optical panel P is present on the relay conveyor 31 and the optical panel manufacturing apparatus 4 cannot receive the optical panel P.

5) When it is determined from the detection result of the detection device that the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 and the relay transport device 31 at the buffer position D of the transport device 30 and there is a free space in the buffer device 34, the control device stops the forward transport mechanism of the transport unit 300 at the buffer position D of the transport device 30, lowers the forward transport roller 3001 … of the forward transport mechanism by the first switching mechanism to switch to the buffer transport mechanism, and then operates the buffer transport mechanism and the buffer device 34 to transport the optical panel P at the buffer position to the buffer device 34.

6) The control device stops the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 when the optical panel P is present on the conveying unit 300 and the intermediate conveying device 31 at the buffer position D of the conveying device 30 according to the detection result of the detection device and no empty space is left in the buffer device 34.

7) When the optical panel P is not present on the transport unit 300 for confirming the buffer position D of the transport device 30, the previous transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300, and the relay transport device 31, and the optical panel P is present in the buffer device 34 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device switches to the buffer transport mechanism by the first switching mechanism, and then operates the buffer transport mechanism and the buffer device 34 to transport one optical panel P in the buffer device 34 to the buffer position.

8) When the worker issues a command to take out the optical panel P from the buffer device 34 by using the specimen transport device 36, if it is determined that the optical panel P is not stored in the first sub-storage unit 342 of the buffer device 34 and the optical panel P is present on the first transport unit 340 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device controls the specimen transport device 36 to take out the optical panel P from the first transport unit 340 and place the optical panel P on the specimen mounting device 37, and if it is determined that the optical panel P is stored in the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the operation of the specimen transport device 36 is prohibited.

9) When the worker instructs to transport the optical panel P from the specimen mount device 37 to the buffer device 34 by using the specimen transport device 36, if the control device determines that the optical panel P is not stored in the first transport unit 340 and the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device controls the specimen transport device 36 to take out the optical panel P from the specimen mount device 37 and place the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340, and if it determines that the optical panel P is stored in the first transport unit 340 or the first sub-storage unit 342 based on the detection result of the detection device, the operation of the specimen transport device 36 is prohibited.

10) When the control device judges that the optical panel P reaches the quality inspection position based on the detection result of the detection device, the control device causes the quality inspection device 32 to inspect the quality of the optical panel P at the quality inspection position.

11) The control device causes the label attaching device 33 to attach a label to a predetermined position on the optical panel P at the label attaching position when it is determined that the optical panel P determined as a non-defective product has reached the label attaching position based on the detection result of the detecting device and the inspection result of the quality inspection device 32, and prohibits the label attaching device 33 from operating when it is determined that the optical panel P at the label attaching position is a defective product.

12) The controller controls the operations of the first switching mechanism, the second switching mechanism, the first main tank lifting mechanism 3411, the first sub-storage frame lifting mechanism 3421, the second main tank lifting mechanism 3511, and the second sub-storage frame lifting mechanism 3521, and raises or lowers the forward conveying mechanism at the buffer position, the forward conveying mechanism at the withdrawal position, the first main tank 3410, the first sub-storage frame 3420, the second main tank 3510, and the second sub-storage frame 3520 by a predetermined height.

Among them, in 1) and 2), 2) is preferentially performed. That is, the control device performs control to carry the optical panel P at the removal position into the removal device 35 when it is determined from the detection result that the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 300 at the removal position C, the optical panel P is not present on the next transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300, and a free space is present in the removal device 35.

In addition, in 1) and 3), 3) is preferentially performed. That is, when the control device determines that the optical panel P is present on the transport unit 400 at the removal position C, and that the optical panel P is not present on the next transport unit 300 adjacent to the transport unit 300 and that the removal device 35 has no empty space based on the detection result, the control device stops the operation of the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 and does not transport the optical panel P at the removal position to the next transport unit 300.

In order to understand the technical solution of embodiment 2 of the present invention more deeply, several control methods of the buffer device 3 in embodiment 2 will be briefly described below.

Note that, in the following, only a few typical control methods of the buffer device 3 are described, and the buffer device 3 can be controlled by other methods than these control methods.

[ control method 1 of buffer device 3]

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing a control method of the buffer device 3 of embodiment 2.

In step S1, the control device determines whether or not the buffer position of the transport device 30 of the buffer apparatus 3 has the optical panel P based on the detection result of the detection device.

When it is determined in step S1 that the optical panel P is present at the buffer position, the process proceeds to step S2, where it is determined whether or not the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31.

When it is determined in step S2 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the process proceeds to step S3, where the optical panel P at the buffer position is sucked up by the relay transport device 31, and then the process returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S2 that the optical panel P is present on the relay conveying device 31, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340.

When it is judged in step S4 that there is no optical panel P on the first carrying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S5, the optical panel P at the buffer position is carried to the first carrying unit 340, and then it returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S4 that the optical panel P is present on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S6, where it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S6 that there is a free space in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S7, the optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340 is transported into the first main unit 341, and then the flow proceeds to step S8, and the optical panel P at the buffer position is transported onto the first transporting unit 340.

After step S8 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S6 that there is no free space in the first main storage unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S9, and it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the first subsidiary storage unit 342.

When it is judged in step S9 that there is a free space in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S10, the optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340 is transported into the first sub memory unit 342, and then the flow proceeds to step S11, and the optical panel P at the buffer position is transported onto the first transporting unit 340.

After step S11 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S9 that there is no free space in the first sub-storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S12, where the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 are stopped.

In addition, when it is determined in step S1 that the buffer position does not have the optical panel P, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether or not the reject position has the optical panel P.

When it is determined in step S13 that the optical panel P is present at the reject position, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the optical panel P at the reject position is a non-defective product based on the inspection result of the quality inspection device 32.

When it is judged in step S14 that the optical panel P at the reject position is a non-defective product, the flow proceeds to step S15, the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed to the buffer position, and then the flow returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S14 that the optical panel P at the reject position is not a non-defective product, the flow proceeds to step S16, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350.

When it is judged in step S16 that there is no optical panel P on the second conveyance unit 350, the flow proceeds to step S17, the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed to the second conveyance unit 350, and then it returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S16 that there is an optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350, the flow proceeds to step S18, where it is judged whether there is a free space in the second main unit 351.

When it is judged in step S18 that there is a free space in the second main unit 351, the flow proceeds to step S19, the optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350 is conveyed into the second main unit 351, and thereafter the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed onto the second conveying unit 350.

After step S19 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S18 that there is no free space in the second main memory unit 351, the flow proceeds to step S20, where it is judged whether or not there is a free space in the second sub memory unit 352.

When it is judged in step S20 that there is a free space in the second sub memory unit 352, the flow proceeds to step S21, the optical panel P on the second conveying unit 350 is conveyed into the second sub memory unit 352, and thereafter the optical panel P at the reject position is conveyed onto the second conveying unit 350.

After step S21 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S20 that there is no free space in the second auxiliary memory unit 352, the process proceeds to step S22, and the RTP pasting device 2 and the buffer device 3 are stopped.

In addition, when it is determined in step S13 that there is no optical panel P at the reject position, the flow proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340.

When it is determined in step S23 that there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S24, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the relay conveying device 31.

When it is judged in step S24 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the flow proceeds to step S25, the optical panel P of the first transport unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, and then the flow returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S24 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

In addition, when it is determined in step S23 that there is no optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S26, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342.

When it is determined in step S26 that the optical panel P is present in the first sub storage unit 342, the process proceeds to step S27, where it is determined whether or not the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31.

When it is determined in step S27 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the process proceeds to step S28, where the optical panel P is transported from the first auxiliary storage unit 342 onto the first transport unit 340, and then the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, and then the process returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S27 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S26 that there is no optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S29, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S29 that there is no optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341, it stands by.

When it is determined in step S29 that the optical panel P is present in the first main storage unit 341, the process proceeds to step S30, and it is determined whether or not the RTP pasting device 2 stops operating.

When it is determined in step S30 that the RTP pasting apparatus 2 has not stopped operating, the apparatus stands by.

When it is determined in step S30 that the RTP bonding apparatus 2 stops operating, the process proceeds to step S31, and it is determined whether or not the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31.

When it is judged in step S31 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the flow proceeds to step S32, the optical panel P is transported from the first main memory unit 341 to the first transport unit 340, and then the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, followed by returning to step S1.

When it is determined in step S31 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

[ control method 2 of buffer device 3]

Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing another control method (control method 2) of the buffer device 3 of embodiment 2. Steps S1 to S22 of the control method 2 are the same as steps S1 to S22 of the control method 1, and therefore, regarding the control method 2, only portions different from the control method 1 will be described below.

When it is determined in step S13 that the reject position does not have an optical panel P, the flow proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether or not there is an optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342.

When it is judged in step S23 that there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S24, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S24 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340, the process proceeds to step S25, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first sub storage unit 342 to the first conveyance unit 340.

After step S25 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S24 that there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S26, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the relay conveying device 31.

When it is determined in step S26 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the process proceeds to step S27, where the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, and then the process proceeds to step S25, where the optical panel P is transported from the first sub-storage unit 342 to the first transport unit 340.

After step S25 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S26 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S23 that there is no optical panel P in the first sub memory unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S28, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341.

When it is judged in step S28 that the optical panel P is present in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S29, where it is judged whether or not the optical panel P is present on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S29 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveyance unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S30, and the optical panel P is conveyed from the first main storage unit 341 to the first conveyance unit 340.

After step S30 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S29 that there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S31, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the relay conveying device 31.

When it is determined in step S31 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport device 31, the process proceeds to step S32, where the optical panel P on the first transport unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, and then the process proceeds to step S30, where the optical panel P is transported from the first main storage unit 341 to the first transport unit 340.

After step S30 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S31 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

In addition, when it is judged in step S28 that there is no optical panel P in the first main unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S33, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340.

When it is judged in step S33 that there is no optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, it stands by.

When it is determined in step S33 that there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S34, where it is determined whether there is an optical panel P on the relay conveying device 31.

When it is judged in step S34 that there is no optical panel P on the relay conveying device 31, the flow proceeds to step S35, where the optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position.

After step S35 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is determined in step S34 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport device 31, the relay transport device stands by.

[ control method 3 of buffer device 3]

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing still another control method (control method 3) of the buffer device 3 of embodiment 2. Steps S1 to S22 of the control method 3 are the same as steps S1 to S22 of the control method 1, and therefore, regarding the control method 3, only portions different from the control method 1 will be described below.

When it is judged in step S13 that there is no optical panel P at the reject position, the flow proceeds to step S23, where it is judged whether or not the RTP pasting apparatus 2 stops operating.

When it is determined in step S23 that the RTP pasting apparatus 2 has not stopped operating, the apparatus stands by.

When it is determined in step S23 that the RTP pasting apparatus 2 stops operating, the process proceeds to step S24, and it is determined whether or not the optical panel P is present on the relay transport unit 31.

When it is determined in step S24 that the optical panel P is present on the relay transport unit 31, the relay transport unit stands by.

When it is judged in step S24 that there is no optical panel P on the relay transport unit 31, the flow proceeds to step S25, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P on the first transport unit 340.

When it is judged in step S25 that there is an optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S26, where the optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340 is conveyed to a buffer position.

After step S26 is completed, return is made to step S1.

When it is judged in step S25 that there is no optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340, the flow proceeds to step S27, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342.

When it is judged in step S27 that there is an optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S28, the optical panel P is transported from the first sub storage unit 342 to the first transporting unit 340, and then the optical panel P on the first transporting unit 340 is transported to the buffer position, followed by returning to step S1.

When it is judged in step S27 that there is no optical panel P in the first sub storage unit 342, the flow proceeds to step S29, where it is judged whether there is an optical panel P in the first main storage unit 341.

When it is judged in step S29 that the optical panel P is present in the first main memory unit 341, the flow proceeds to step S30, the optical panel P is conveyed from the first main memory unit 341 to the first conveying unit 340, and then the optical panel P on the first conveying unit 340 is conveyed to the buffer position. Next, the process returns to step S1.

When it is judged in step S29 that there is no optical panel P in the first main memory unit 341, it stands by.

[ Effect of operation of the buffer device 3]

According to the present embodiment 2, when the RTP bonding apparatus 2 with relatively high productivity and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 with relatively low productivity are connected by the buffer apparatus 3, when the optical panel P conveyed from the RTP bonding apparatus 2 to the buffer position of the conveyor 30 cannot be conveyed to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 by the relay conveyor 31 in time, the control device automatically causes the optical panel P that cannot be conveyed in time to enter the buffer device 34 from the buffer position, thereby leaving the buffer position free, and therefore, the production can be continued without stopping the operation of the RTP bonding apparatus 2, and the respective performances of the RTP bonding apparatus 2 and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be sufficiently exhibited.

In addition, when the upstream optical panel P cannot be timely conveyed to the buffer position, the optical panel P in the buffer device 34 can be sent to the buffer position and further conveyed to the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 to be used by the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4, and the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be prevented from idling, so that the performance of the optical display manufacturing apparatus 4 can be sufficiently exhibited.

In addition, during the conveyance, the optical panels P on the upstream conveyance unit are conveyed to the downstream conveyance unit only when the detection device confirms that there is no optical panel P on the downstream conveyance unit, and therefore, collision between the optical panels P can be effectively avoided.

In addition, defective products in the optical panels P can be removed from the inspection results of the quality inspection device 32, and it is ensured that all the optical panels P conveyed to the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 are defective products.

In addition, the optical panel P can be randomly extracted from the buffer device 34 as a sample by the sample transport device 36 for visual inspection by a worker. In the case where the extracted optical panel P is found to be unexpected (e.g., defective), the worker may adjust the quality inspection device 32 according to the inspection result. Therefore, the quality of the optical panel P conveyed to the optical display panel manufacturing apparatus 4 can be ensured.

< modification example >

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various changes may be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, the buffer device 3 of the present invention may not have the rejecting device 37 that receives the defective product. In this case, the quality inspection device 32 may be omitted.

For another example, the plurality of conveyor units 300 … constituting the conveyor device 30 may be all belt conveyors, or may be roller conveyors in one portion and belt conveyors in another portion. When the transport unit at the reject position and the buffer position is a belt conveyor, the transport of the optical panel P into the reject device 35 and the transport of the optical panel P between the buffer position and the buffer device 34 can be realized by a robot.

The conveying device 30 of the buffer device 3 may be configured not by a plurality of conveying units that operate independently of each other but by a single roller conveyor in which a plurality of forward conveying rollers rotate in conjunction with each other. In this case, the conveyance of the optical panel P into the removing device 35 and the conveyance of the optical panel P between the buffer position and the buffer device 34 can be realized by a robot.

As another example, the buffer device 3 may not have the label sticking means 33, the buffer device 34 may not have the first auxiliary storage unit 342, and the removing means 35 may not have the second auxiliary storage unit 352.

Claims (36)

1. A buffer facility provided between an upstream production facility and a downstream production facility to constitute a continuous production line together with the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, comprising:

a transport device connected between the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, receiving the transported object from the upstream production facility and sending the transported object to the downstream production facility;

a buffer device branched from a buffer position on the conveying device, and capable of receiving the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position and storing the conveyed object;

a detection device for detecting the conveying condition of the conveyed object on the conveying device and the downstream production equipment and the storage condition of the conveyed object in the buffer device;

a control device connected to the transport device, the buffer device, and the detection device, and configured to control operations of the transport device and the buffer device according to a detection result of the detection device;

the control device performs control of conveying the object at the buffer position to the downstream production equipment when it is determined that the object is present at the buffer position and the downstream production equipment can receive the object, performs control of conveying the object at the buffer position to the buffer device when it is determined that the object is present at the buffer position, the downstream production equipment cannot receive the object, and there is a free space in the buffer device, and performs control of stopping the operation of the upstream production equipment and the buffer device when it is determined that the object is present at the buffer position, the downstream production equipment cannot receive the object, and there is no free space in the buffer device,

the buffer device further comprises a sample conveying device for taking out the conveyed object from the buffer device and a sample carrying device for carrying the conveyed object taken out by the sample conveying device,

the buffer device has a first conveying unit that branches off from a buffer position on the conveying device, receives the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position, and conveys the conveyed object,

the control device controls the sample transport device to take out the object from the first transport unit and place the object on the sample placement device when it is determined that the object is present on the first transport unit of the buffer device based on the detection result of the detection device, and controls the sample transport device to take out the object from the sample placement device and place the object on the first transport unit when it is determined that the object is not present on the first transport unit based on the detection result of the detection device.

2. The buffer device of claim 1,

the conveying device comprises a plurality of conveying units which are arranged in series along the conveying direction of the conveyed object and respectively independently act,

the control device performs control to convey the object on the upstream conveying unit to the downstream conveying unit when the object on the upstream conveying unit and the object on the downstream conveying unit are confirmed to be present on the two adjacent conveying units according to the detection result.

3. The buffer device of claim 2,

the buffer device can convey the stored conveyed objects to the buffer position,

the control device controls the conveyance of the conveyance object from the buffer device to the conveyance unit at the buffer position when it is confirmed that the conveyance object is not present on the conveyance unit at the buffer position and the previous conveyance unit adjacent to the conveyance unit based on the detection result of the detection device, the conveyance object is present in the buffer device, and the downstream production facility can receive the conveyance object.

4. The buffer device of claim 3,

the conveying unit at the buffer position is provided with a forward conveying mechanism for receiving the conveyed object from the adjacent previous conveying unit and conveying the conveyed object to the downstream production equipment, a buffer conveying mechanism for conveying the conveyed object between the buffer position and the buffer device, and a first switching mechanism for switching the forward conveying mechanism and the buffer conveying mechanism.

5. The buffer device of claim 4,

the forward conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the buffer conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of buffer conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the buffer conveying rollers to rotate in an interlocking manner;

the buffer conveying rollers are positioned below the forward conveying rollers and are arranged in a crossed manner with the forward conveying rollers, the conveying rollers of the buffer conveying rollers are positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameters of the conveying rollers of the buffer conveying rollers are larger than those of the conveying rollers of the forward conveying rollers,

the first switching mechanism switches to conveying the object by the buffer conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller.

6. The buffer device of claim 4,

the buffer means has a first main memory unit,

the first main storage unit and the buffer conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the buffer positions are respectively positioned at two ends of the first conveying unit in the conveying direction.

7. The buffer device of claim 6,

the first conveying unit is provided with a first bracket, a plurality of first conveying rollers which are parallel to each other and can be rotatably arranged on the first bracket, and a driving part for driving the first conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner.

8. The buffer device of claim 6,

the first main memory unit has:

a first main tank body having two side walls arranged at an interval and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of support plates being respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, the plurality of support plates on each side wall being arranged at an interval in the vertical direction;

and the first main storage box lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first main storage box and drives the first main storage box to lift.

9. The buffer device of claim 6,

the buffer device also has a first auxiliary storage unit located between the buffer transport mechanism of the transport unit at the buffer position and the first main storage unit.

10. The buffer device of claim 9,

the first auxiliary storage unit has:

a first auxiliary storage frame having two sets of vertical posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two sets of vertical posts, wherein a plurality of support arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two sets of vertical posts, and the plurality of support arms of each vertical post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each set of vertical posts;

and the first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first auxiliary storage frame and drives the first auxiliary storage frame to lift.

11. The buffer device of claim 2, further comprising:

a quality inspection device for inspecting the quality of the conveyed object conveyed by the conveying device;

a removing device which is branched from a removing position on the conveying device, is positioned at the downstream of the quality inspection device, and receives the conveyed object from the removing position;

the reject location is upstream of the buffer location,

the detection device also detects the storage condition of the conveyed objects in the rejecting device,

and a control device for controlling the conveyance of the conveyed object at the rejection position to the rejection device when the conveyed object judged as a defective product by the quality inspection device reaches the rejection position and the rejection device has a free space based on the detection result of the detection device.

12. The buffer device of claim 11,

the conveying unit at the rejecting position comprises a forward conveying mechanism for receiving the conveyed object from the adjacent previous conveying unit and conveying the conveyed object to the adjacent next conveying unit, a rejecting conveying mechanism for conveying the conveyed object from the rejecting position to the rejecting device, and a second switching mechanism for switching the forward conveying mechanism and the rejecting conveying mechanism.

13. The buffer device of claim 12,

the forward conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the rejection conveying mechanism is provided with: mounting a bracket; a plurality of reject conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of rejecting conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the rejecting conveying rollers are positioned below the forward conveying rollers and are arranged in a crossed manner with the forward conveying rollers, the conveying rollers of the rejecting conveying rollers are positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameter of the conveying rollers of the rejecting conveying rollers is larger than that of the conveying rollers of the forward conveying rollers,

the second switching mechanism switches to conveying the object by the reject conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the reject conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the reject conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the reject conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the reject conveying roller.

14. The buffer device of claim 11,

the rejection device has a second transport unit and a second main storage unit,

the second main memory unit and the rejecting conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the rejecting positions are respectively positioned at two ends of the second conveying unit in the conveying direction.

15. The buffer device of claim 14,

the second conveying unit is provided with a second bracket, a plurality of second conveying rollers which are parallel to each other and are rotatably arranged on the second bracket, and a driving part for driving the second conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner.

16. The buffer device of claim 14,

the second main memory unit has:

a second main tank body having two side walls arranged at an interval and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of support plates being respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, the plurality of support plates on each side wall being arranged at an interval in the vertical direction;

and the second main storage box lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second main storage box and drives the second main storage box to lift.

17. The buffer device of claim 14,

the rejection device also has a second auxiliary storage unit located between the rejection conveying mechanism of the conveying unit at the rejection position and the second main storage unit.

18. The buffer device of claim 17,

the second auxiliary storage unit has:

a second auxiliary storage frame having two sets of vertical posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two sets of vertical posts, wherein a plurality of support arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two sets of vertical posts, and the plurality of support arms of each vertical post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each set of vertical posts;

and the second auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second auxiliary storage frame and drives the second auxiliary storage frame to lift.

19. A buffer facility provided between an upstream production facility and a downstream production facility to constitute a continuous production line together with the upstream production facility and the downstream production facility, comprising:

a transport device that is provided downstream in the transport direction of the upstream production facility, receives the transported object from the upstream production facility, and transports the transported object downstream in the transport direction;

a transfer conveyor provided between the conveyor and the downstream production facility, the transfer conveyor conveying the conveyed object from a buffer position on the conveyor to the downstream production facility;

a buffer device branched from the buffer position, capable of receiving the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position and storing the conveyed object;

a detecting device for detecting the conveying condition of the conveyed objects on the conveying device, the transfer conveying device and the downstream production equipment and the storage condition of the conveyed objects in the buffer device;

a control device connected to the conveying device, the transfer conveying device, the buffer device, and the detection device, and configured to control operations of the conveying device, the transfer conveying device, and the buffer device according to a detection result of the detection device;

the control device performs control for receiving the object to be conveyed at the buffer position by the relay conveying device when it is determined that the object to be conveyed is present at the buffer position and the object to be conveyed is not present on the relay conveying device based on the detection result, performs control for conveying the object to be conveyed at the relay conveying device to the downstream production facility when it is determined that the object to be conveyed is present on the relay conveying device and the object to be conveyed is receivable by the downstream production facility, performs control for conveying the object to be conveyed at the buffer position to the buffer device when it is determined that the object to be conveyed is present on the buffer position and the relay conveying device and a free space is present in the buffer device, and performs control for conveying the object to be conveyed at the buffer position to the buffer device when it is determined that the object to be conveyed is present on the buffer position and the relay conveying device and the free space is not present in the buffer device, control is performed to stop the operation of the upstream production apparatus and the buffer device,

the buffer device further comprises a sample conveying device for taking out the conveyed object from the buffer device and a sample carrying device for carrying the conveyed object taken out by the sample conveying device,

the buffer device has a first conveying unit that branches off from a buffer position on the conveying device, receives the conveyed object from the conveying device from the buffer position, and conveys the conveyed object,

the control device controls the sample transport device to take out the object from the first transport unit and place the object on the sample placement device when it is determined that the object is present on the first transport unit of the buffer device based on the detection result of the detection device, and controls the sample transport device to take out the object from the sample placement device and place the object on the first transport unit when it is determined that the object is not present on the first transport unit based on the detection result of the detection device.

20. The buffer device of claim 19,

the conveying device comprises a plurality of conveying units which are arranged in series along the conveying direction of the conveyed object and respectively independently act,

the control device performs control to convey the object on the upstream conveying unit to the downstream conveying unit when the object on the upstream conveying unit and the object on the downstream conveying unit are confirmed to be present on the two adjacent conveying units according to the detection result.

21. The buffer device of claim 20,

the buffer device can convey the stored conveyed objects to the buffer position,

the control device controls the conveyance of the conveyance object from the buffer device to the conveyance unit at the buffer position when the conveyance unit at the buffer position, the conveyance unit immediately before the conveyance unit, and the relay conveyance device are confirmed based on the detection result of the detection device, and the conveyance object is not present in the preceding conveyance unit and the relay conveyance device adjacent to the conveyance unit, and the conveyance object is present in the buffer device.

22. The buffer device of claim 21,

the conveying unit at the buffer position is provided with a forward conveying mechanism for receiving the conveyed object from the adjacent previous conveying unit, a buffer conveying mechanism for conveying the conveyed object between the buffer position and the buffer device, and a first switching mechanism for switching the forward conveying mechanism and the buffer conveying mechanism.

23. The buffer device of claim 22,

the forward conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the buffer conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of buffer conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the buffer conveying rollers to rotate in an interlocking manner;

the buffer conveying rollers are positioned below the forward conveying rollers and are arranged in a crossed manner with the forward conveying rollers, the conveying rollers of the buffer conveying rollers are positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameters of the conveying rollers of the buffer conveying rollers are larger than those of the conveying rollers of the forward conveying rollers,

the first switching mechanism switches to conveying the object by the buffer conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the buffer conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the buffer conveying roller.

24. The buffer device of claim 22,

the buffer means has a first main memory unit,

the first main storage unit and the buffer conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the buffer positions are respectively positioned at two ends of the first conveying unit in the conveying direction.

25. The buffer device of claim 24,

the first conveying unit is provided with a first bracket, a plurality of first conveying rollers which are parallel to each other and can be rotatably arranged on the first bracket, and a driving part for driving the first conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner.

26. The buffer device of claim 24,

the first main memory unit has:

a first main tank body having two side walls arranged at an interval and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of support plates being respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, the plurality of support plates on each side wall being arranged at an interval in the vertical direction;

and the first main storage box lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first main storage box and drives the first main storage box to lift.

27. The buffer device of claim 24,

the buffer device also has a first auxiliary storage unit located between the buffer transport mechanism of the transport unit at the buffer position and the first main storage unit.

28. The buffer device of claim 27,

the first auxiliary storage unit has:

a first auxiliary storage frame having two sets of vertical posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two sets of vertical posts, wherein a plurality of support arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two sets of vertical posts, and the plurality of support arms of each vertical post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each set of vertical posts;

and the first auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the first auxiliary storage frame and drives the first auxiliary storage frame to lift.

29. The buffer device of claim 20, further comprising:

a quality inspection device for inspecting the quality of the conveyed object conveyed by the conveying device;

a removing device which is branched from a removing position on the conveying device, is positioned at the downstream of the quality inspection device and at the upstream of the buffer position, and receives the conveyed object from the removing position;

the detection device also detects the storage condition of the conveyed objects in the rejecting device,

and a control device for controlling the conveyance of the conveyed object at the rejection position to the rejection device when the conveyed object judged as a defective product by the quality inspection device reaches the rejection position and the rejection device has a free space based on the detection result of the detection device.

30. The buffer device of claim 29,

the conveying unit at the rejecting position comprises a forward conveying mechanism for receiving the conveyed object from the adjacent previous conveying unit and conveying the conveyed object to the adjacent next conveying unit, a rejecting conveying mechanism for conveying the conveyed object from the rejecting position to the rejecting device, and a second switching mechanism for switching the forward conveying mechanism and the rejecting conveying mechanism.

31. The buffer device of claim 30,

the forward conveying mechanism comprises: mounting a bracket; a plurality of forward conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers disposed at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of forward conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the rejection conveying mechanism is provided with: mounting a bracket; a plurality of reject conveying rollers having a plurality of roller shafts parallel to each other and rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket and a plurality of conveying rollers provided at intervals on each of the roller shafts; a driving part which drives the roller shafts of the plurality of rejecting conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner;

the rejecting conveying rollers are positioned below the forward conveying rollers and are arranged in a crossed manner with the forward conveying rollers, the conveying rollers of the rejecting conveying rollers are positioned between the adjacent forward conveying rollers, the diameter of the conveying rollers of the rejecting conveying rollers is larger than that of the conveying rollers of the forward conveying rollers,

the second switching mechanism switches to conveying the object by the reject conveying mechanism by lowering the forward conveying roller relative to the reject conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is lower than the top of the conveying roller of the reject conveying roller, and switches to conveying the object by the forward conveying mechanism by raising the forward conveying roller relative to the reject conveying roller until the top of the conveying roller of the forward conveying roller is higher than the top of the conveying roller of the reject conveying roller.

32. The buffer device of claim 30,

the rejection device has a second transport unit and a second main storage unit,

the second main memory unit and the rejecting conveying mechanisms of the conveying units at the rejecting positions are respectively positioned at two ends of the second conveying unit in the conveying direction.

33. The buffer device of claim 32,

the second conveying unit is provided with a second bracket, a plurality of second conveying rollers which are parallel to each other and are rotatably arranged on the second bracket, and a driving part for driving the second conveying rollers to rotate in a linkage manner.

34. The buffer device of claim 32,

the second main memory unit has:

a second main tank body having two side walls arranged at an interval and a bottom wall connected between the two side walls, a plurality of support plates being respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two side walls, the plurality of support plates on each side wall being arranged at an interval in the vertical direction;

and the second main storage box lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second main storage box and drives the second main storage box to lift.

35. The buffer device of claim 32,

the rejection device also has a second auxiliary storage unit located between the rejection conveying mechanism of the conveying unit at the rejection position and the second main storage unit.

36. The buffer device of claim 35,

the second auxiliary storage unit has:

a second auxiliary storage frame having two sets of vertical posts arranged at intervals and a bottom wall connected between the two sets of vertical posts, wherein a plurality of support arms are respectively arranged at corresponding positions on the inner sides of the two sets of vertical posts, and the plurality of support arms of each vertical post are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in each set of vertical posts;

and the second auxiliary storage frame lifting mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the bottom wall of the second auxiliary storage frame and drives the second auxiliary storage frame to lift.

Images