CN117068848A

CN117068848A - Method for transferring flat plate-like workpiece

Info

Publication number: CN117068848A
Application number: CN202310540542.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 平冈慎哉; 前田实
Original assignee: Nitto Denko Corp
Current assignee: Nitto Denko Corp
Priority date: 2022-05-16
Filing date: 2023-05-15
Publication date: 2023-11-17
Also published as: TW202400497A; JP2023169005A; KR20230160173A; JP7411722B2

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to prevent an adhesive of an adhesive layer from adhering to a placement place when a flat work having the adhesive layer disposed between at least two films is transferred from an initial place to the placement place. The present invention is a transfer method of a flat workpiece (1), which is characterized in that a flexible flat workpiece (1) existing in an initial place (A) is held by a holding device (3), the flat workpiece (1) is moved to the upper part of a placement place (B) and is placed on the placement place (B), wherein the flat workpiece (1) is provided with a first film, a second film and an adhesive layer arranged between the first film and the second film, and the flat workpiece (1) is bent in a manner that the middle part of the flat workpiece (1) in a first direction is positioned below both ends of the flat workpiece in a first direction when seen from the side, and the flat workpiece (1) is placed on the placement place (B) in the state.

Description

Method for transferring flat plate-like workpiece

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transfer method for transferring a flat workpiece including an adhesive layer from one place to another place.

Background

Conventionally, films formed into a predetermined planar shape have been used for various purposes. In the present specification, a film formed in a predetermined planar shape is referred to as a "flat workpiece".

For example, the optical film is formed into a predetermined planar shape in accordance with the shape of the screen of the image display device, and then introduced into the image display device. Such a flat plate-like work (optical film of a predetermined shape) is generally obtained by cutting an optical film blank film (an optical film of a long strip shape or an optical film of a large sheet) with a cutter. The flat plate-like work (optical film of a predetermined shape) is transferred to the next step, and is subjected to any appropriate treatment and then shipped as a product.

As a device for transferring the above-mentioned flat plate-like work, a so-called pick and place device is known. The pick-and-place apparatus is an apparatus that performs a series of operations of holding and lifting an object existing in a certain place (hereinafter referred to as an initial place), transferring the object to a place above another place (hereinafter referred to as a placement place), and placing the object on the placement place while lowering the object.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a membrane separation device 2 in which adsorption disks 12 that are moved up and down by a spring pull-up device 5 are arranged on both sides in the width direction of an adsorption perforated belt 7 (reference is made to patent document 1). The membrane separation device 2 is also one of pick-and-place devices, and operates to take out flat-plate-like workpieces (membranes) one by one from a stack of stacked plates, which is an initial place, and transfer the flat-plate-like workpieces (membranes) to a place. That is, the suction tray 12 is lowered by the spring pull-up device 5, the uppermost flat workpiece (film) is sucked by the suction tray 12, the suction tray 12 is raised by the spring pull-up device 5, the flat workpiece is lifted up, the flat workpiece is sucked by the perforated belt 7, the suction of the suction tray 12 is released, the perforated belt 7 is driven, and the flat workpiece is transferred to the place where the flat workpiece is placed.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 7-53072

Disclosure of Invention

However, it is known that when a flat work is formed of a laminate including an adhesive layer, if the flat work is continuously transferred from an initial place to a placement place, there is a possibility that the adhesive adheres to the placement place.

For example, a flat workpiece transferred from an initial place may be stacked on the surface of a flat workpiece transferred first. In this case, the adhesive of the transferred flat plate-like work adheres to the surface of the previous flat plate-like work, and there is a concern that the flat plate-like work overlapped up and down may cause sticking. In addition, for example, a flat plate-like workpiece transferred from an initial place may be placed on the surface of a conveyor belt. In this case, the adhesive of the flat plate-like work transferred from the initial place adheres to the surface of the conveyor belt, and there is a concern that the belt is contaminated with the adhesive.

Problems to be solved by the invention

The purpose of the invention is that: when a flat work having an adhesive layer provided between at least two films is transferred from an initial place to a placement place, the adhesive of the adhesive layer is not adhered to the placement place.

Means for solving the problems

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on the cause of adhesion of an adhesive to a place where the adhesive is placed. In the above example, the placement location corresponds to the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece to be transferred first or the surface of the conveyor belt.

In detail, when a flat workpiece is transferred to a place, the flat workpiece may be slightly inclined to be placed on the surface of the place, or the edge of the transferred flat workpiece may be in contact with the place due to vibration when the flat workpiece is placed on the surface of the place. Since the end face of the adhesive layer is located at the edge of the flat plate-like work, it is known that a small amount of the adhesive exposed at the end face of the adhesive layer adheres to the placement place. In particular, as in patent document 1, when the center portion of the flat plate-like work is sucked and transferred, both end portions of the flat plate-like work sag downward on the placement site, and if the holding of the flat plate-like work is released in this state, the end face of the adhesive layer is easily brought into contact with the placement site.

The present inventors have completed the present invention based on such findings.

A first method of the present invention is a transfer method for a flat workpiece, in which a flexible flat workpiece existing in an initial place is held by a holding device, the flat workpiece is moved to a position above a placement place and placed in the placement place, the flat workpiece has a first film, a second film, and an adhesive layer provided between the first film and the second film, and the flat workpiece is bent so that a first-direction middle portion of the flat workpiece is positioned below both ends in a side view, and the flat workpiece is placed in the placement place in this state.

A second method according to the present invention is a transfer method for a flat workpiece, in which a flexible flat workpiece existing in an initial place is held by a holding device, the flat workpiece is moved to a position above a placement place and placed in the placement place, and the flat workpiece has a first film, a second film, and an adhesive layer provided between the first film and the second film, and is placed in the placement place such that a first-direction intermediate portion of the flat workpiece contacts the placement place before both first-direction end portions of the flat workpiece.

In a preferred transfer method according to the present invention, the holding device lifts the flat-plate-shaped workpiece from the initial place in a substantially horizontal state, and moves the flat-plate-shaped workpiece to a position above the placement place in the substantially horizontal state.

In a preferred transfer method according to the present invention, the holding device includes end adsorbing portions and middle adsorbing portions capable of adsorbing and desorbing both end portions and middle portions of the flat plate-like workpiece in a first direction, and the transfer method includes: a step of adsorbing the end adsorbing portions to the surfaces of both end portions of the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the first direction, and adsorbing the intermediate adsorbing portions to the surfaces of the intermediate portion of the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the first direction; a step of moving the suctioned flat-plate-shaped workpiece from the initial position to a position above a placement position; and a step of removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece by the middle suction part and then removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece by the end suction part, thereby placing the flat plate-shaped workpiece on the placement location.

In a preferred transfer method according to the present invention, each end surface of the first film and the second film extends parallel to the end surface of the adhesive layer around the flat workpiece.

In a preferred transfer method of the present invention, the first film of the flat workpiece includes a polarizing film.

Effects of the invention

According to the transfer method of the present invention, when a flat workpiece is placed on a placement site, an adhesive is less likely to adhere to the placement site, and contamination of the placement site with the adhesive can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flat plate-like workpiece.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing one layer configuration example of a flat plate-like work.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing another layer configuration example of the flat plate-like work.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the workpiece forming apparatus and the holding apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the work forming apparatus and the holding apparatus.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the holding device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front view of the holding device as seen from the arrow VII direction of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a reference plan view showing the suction position of the suction portion to the flat plate-like workpiece.

Fig. 9 is a side view showing a process of lifting and transferring a flat plate-like workpiece to the upper side of a placement location.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing a process of placing a flat plate-like workpiece on a placement location.

Fig. 11 is a reference plan view showing the suction position of the suction portion of the modification to the flat plate-like workpiece.

Fig. 12 is a reference perspective view of the suction portion of the modification example as viewed obliquely from below.

Fig. 13 is a side view showing a process of transferring a flat plate-like workpiece from an initial place to a placement place in a modification.

Symbol description

1 plate-like workpiece

11 first film

15. 151, 152 adhesive layer

12 second film

3 holding device

5 adsorption part

51. End adsorption part

52. Middle adsorption part

A initial place

B placement site

Detailed Description

In the present specification, "planar view" refers to a view from the vertical direction of the surface of the object, and "planar view" refer to a shape of the object and the drawing when viewed from the vertical direction of the surface of the object. In the present specification, "side view" means a state of being viewed from one side in the second direction to the opposite side, and "side view" mean a state of an object and a drawing when being viewed from one side in the second direction to the opposite side. The first direction and the second direction refer to directions orthogonal to each other in the plane of the flat plate-like work.

In the present specification, the expression "substantially" means a range allowed in the technical field including the present invention. In the present specification, when a plurality of numerical ranges indicated by "lower limit value is equal to or higher than the upper limit value" are described, an arbitrary lower limit value and an arbitrary upper limit value may be selected.

[ Flat plate-like workpiece ]

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a plate-shaped workpiece 1.

The flat plate-like work 1 has flexibility. Flexibility refers to bending due to the weight of the workpiece or bending by a small load.

The flat plate-like work 1 is a film formed in a predetermined planar shape for some purpose such as product standards. The planar shape of the flat-plate-shaped workpiece 1 may be the shape of the final product or the shape of an intermediate in the process of producing the product.

The specific shape of the flat plate-like work 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the planar shape of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 includes a substantially rectangular shape (a substantially rectangular shape is a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially square shape), a substantially polygonal shape such as a substantially triangular shape or a substantially hexagonal shape, a substantially circular shape, a substantially elliptical shape, and an abnormal shape obtained by combining these shapes. The "substantially" of the substantially rectangular shape, the substantially three-sided shape, and the substantially polygonal shape includes, for example, a shape in which corners are chamfered, a shape in which a part of a side is slightly bulged or depressed, a shape in which a side is slightly curved, and the like. The "substantially" of the substantially circular shape and the substantially elliptical shape includes, for example, a shape in which a part of the circumference is slightly raised or recessed, a shape in which a part of the circumference is slightly linear or diagonal, and the like.

Fig. 1 illustrates a flat plate-like workpiece 1 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. In fig. 1, a substantially rectangular plate-like work 1 is shown in which four corners of a rectangle are chamfered, but the corners may be formed at right angles.

In fig. 1, the direction along the long side of the substantially rectangular plate-like workpiece 1 is set as the first direction, but the direction along the short side may be set as the first direction, or the direction inclined with respect to the long side may be set as the first direction. The first direction (and the second direction which is a direction orthogonal to the first direction) may be any direction within the plane of the flat plate-like workpiece 1.

The application of the product obtained from the flat plate-like work 1 is not particularly limited. Examples of the product obtained from the flat plate-like work 1 include an optical component or a mechanical component such as a screen to be introduced into an image display device or a lens of sunglasses; sealing materials such as adhesive labels; packaging materials such as packaging films; electrical components such as electromagnetic wave shields. In particular, in order to require high cleanliness, the method of the present invention is preferably applied to transfer the flat plate-like work 1 as an optical member.

From the viewpoint of layer constitution, the flat plate-like work 1 has a first film, a second film, and an adhesive layer provided between the first film and the second film. The flat-plate-shaped work 1 may have other films or layers, provided that it has a laminated structure of a first film/an adhesive layer/a second film.

In the following, several examples of the layer structure of the flat plate-like work 1 for optical component use will be exemplarily described.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing one layer configuration example of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 (a view of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 viewed from the second direction side), and fig. 3 is a side view showing other layer configuration examples of the flat plate-like workpiece 1. Note that, when the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is viewed from the first direction side (although the lateral width is different), the layer configuration and the end face are the same, and therefore this figure is omitted.

The flat plate-like work 1 shown in fig. 2 has a first film 11, an adhesive layer 15, and a second film 12 in this order from the front surface side. Around the plate-like work 1, the end surfaces 11a, 12a of the first film 11 and the second film 12 extend parallel to the end surface 15a of the adhesive layer 15. In other words, the end face 11a of the first film 11, the end face 15a of the adhesive layer 15, and the end face 12a of the second film 12 continuously form one plane. Therefore, the end face of the flat plate-like work 1 is constituted by the assembly of the end faces 11a, 15a, 12a of the first film 11, the adhesive layer 15, and the second film 12. In the present specification, the end face is a face along the thickness direction, and the front face and the back face are faces orthogonal to the thickness direction.

The flat plate-like work 1 shown in fig. 3 has, in order from the front surface side, a third film 13, a first adhesive layer 151, a first film 11, a second adhesive layer 152, and a second film 12. Around the plate-like work 1, the end surfaces 11a, 12a, 13a of the first to third films 11, 12, 13 extend parallel to the end surfaces 151a, 152a of the first and second adhesive layers 151, 152. In other words, the end surfaces 11a, 12a, 13a of the films 11, 12, 13 and the end surfaces 151a, 152a of the adhesive layers 151, 152 are formed continuously in one plane.

Although not shown, the flat work 1 may have another film and/or an adhesive layer. In the flat plate-like work 1 having the other films and/or adhesive layers, the end surfaces of the films and the end surfaces of the adhesive layers also form a single plane continuously.

The flat plate-like work 1 for optical member use includes an optical film. In this case, all of the first film 11 and the like may be optical films, or at least one film selected from a plurality of films may be an optical film and at least one film other than the optical film.

In the layer structure shown in fig. 2, for example, the first film 11 is an optical film, the second film 12 is a release liner (film other than an optical film), and in the layer structure shown in fig. 3, for example, the first film 11 and the third film 13 are optical films, and the second film 12 is a release liner. The release liner is releasably adhered to the adhesive layer 15, 152. Therefore, the release liner and the adhesive layer 15, 152 can be peeled off at their interfaces, but the optical film and the adhesive layer 15, 152 are not easily peeled off. In use, the release liner is peeled off and removed.

Examples of the optical film include an optical functional film and a protective film. The optical film may have a one-layer structure or may have a multilayer structure of two or more layers. When the optical film has a multilayer structure of two or more layers, the optical film may be a laminate in which two or more layers having the same function are laminated, or a laminate in which two or more layers having different functions are laminated. Examples of the laminate of films having different functions include a laminate of a polarizing film and a retardation film, a laminate of a polarizing film and a protective film, and the like.

Examples of the optical functional film include a polarizing film, a retardation film, a light diffusion film, a brightness enhancement film, an antiglare film, and a light reflection film. The polarizing film is a film having a property of transmitting light (polarized light) vibrating in a specific one direction and blocking light vibrating in other directions. The retardation film is a film exhibiting optical anisotropy, and typically includes, for example, a stretched film of an acrylic resin, a cycloolefin resin, a cellulose resin, or the like. The protective film is a film used for the purpose of protecting the optical functional film. As the protective film, a colorless transparent film is typically used.

In one embodiment, the first film 11 shown in fig. 2 is, for example, an optical functional film. In another embodiment, the first film 11 shown in fig. 3 is, for example, an optical functional film, and the third film 13 is, for example, a protective film. In this case, the third film 13 may be peeled off from the first film 11 with the adhesive layer 151, or may be bonded via the adhesive layer 151 in a state where the third film 13 is not easily peeled off from the first film 11.

The thickness of the optical film is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 5 μm to 300 μm.

The release liner has a release surface excellent in releasability from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

Examples of the release liner include: resin films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyester films; paper; porous membranes such as woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, mesh fabrics, etc.; a foamed resin film, and the like. The release liner is preferably a resin film from the viewpoint of excellent surface smoothness. Examples of the resin film include: polyethylene terephthalate film, polybutylene terephthalate film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film, polybutylene film, polybutadiene film, polymethylpentene film, polyvinyl chloride film, vinyl chloride copolymer film, polyurethane film, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer film, and the like.

The thickness of the release liner is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 5 μm to 200 μm, preferably 10 μm to 100 μm.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has adhesiveness at ordinary temperature, and can be reattached with continued adhesiveness even after peeling. The adhesive layer is made of a known adhesive. Examples of the adhesive include colorless and transparent acrylic adhesives, rubber adhesives, silicone adhesives, urethane adhesives, vinyl alkyl ether adhesives, polyvinylpyrrolidone adhesives, polyacrylamide adhesives, and cellulose adhesives.

The method of the present invention is effective particularly for application to a flat plate-like work having an adhesive layer formed of a relatively soft adhesive.

The hardness of the adhesive may be indicated by the storage modulus G', for example. The soft binder has a storage modulus G' at 25℃of 0.001MPa to 1MPa, preferably 0.01MPa to 1MPa. The storage modulus can be determined by dynamic viscoelasticity measurement. Specifically, the adhesive layer 15 was measured at a temperature range of-20 to 100℃at a temperature rise rate of 5℃per minute using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus (apparatus name "ARES" manufactured by TA Instruments Co.) under the condition of a frequency of 1Hz, and the storage modulus G' at 25℃was calculated.

The thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 0.1 μm to 50. Mu.m, preferably 1 μm to 30. Mu.m.

[ apparatus for holding and transferring plate-like workpiece ]

In the method for transferring a flat workpiece according to the present invention, a flexible flat workpiece existing in an initial place is held by a holding device, and the flat workpiece is moved to a position above a placement place and placed in the placement place. When a flat workpiece is placed on a placement location, the flat workpiece is placed on the placement location such that a first-direction intermediate portion of the flat workpiece contacts the placement location before both first-direction end portions. Or bending the flat plate-like workpiece so that a first-direction intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece is positioned below both first-direction end portions in a side view, and placing the flat plate-like workpiece in the placement location in this state.

Hereinafter, a flat plate-like work for optical member use will be described as an example.

Holding device for flat plate-like work

Fig. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing the work forming apparatus 2 for producing the flat work 1 from the blank film 4 and the holding apparatus 3 for holding and transferring the flat work 1. Thin arrows in fig. 4 and 5 indicate the conveyance of the green film 4 and the recovery of the cutting residue 41.

The workpiece forming apparatus 2 for producing the flat-plate-shaped workpiece 1 includes a first conveying section 21 for conveying the blank film 4 from the upstream side to the downstream side, a cutting section 23 for cutting the blank film 4 to form the flat-plate-shaped workpiece 1, and a second conveying section 22 for conveying the flat-plate-shaped workpiece 1 to the downstream side. The holding device 3 for transferring the flat plate-like workpiece 1 has a holding device for holding the flat plate-like workpiece 1. The flat plate-like workpiece 1 formed by the workpiece forming apparatus 2 is transferred to the next step by the holding apparatus 3.

The workpiece forming apparatus 2 may be any known apparatus. The operation of the workpiece forming apparatus 2 will be briefly described.

For example, the blank film 4 is conveyed to the cutting section 23 by the first conveying section 21. The blank film 4 may be strip-shaped in a plan view, or may be rectangular in a large sheet in a plan view. Since the flat work 1 is obtained by cutting the blank film 4, the layer configuration of the blank film 4 is the same as the layer configuration of the flat work 1 described above. The green film 4 is sent downstream as indicated by the thin arrow, and the green film 4 is cut by the cutting portion 23, whereby a plurality of flat plate-like workpieces 1 aligned in the in-plane direction can be obtained. The cutting portion 23 may be a pressurized type having a thomson knife or the like, or may be a rotary type such as a rotary cutter. Further, the cutting residues 41 (for example, both end portions of the green film 4) generated after cutting the green film 4 are collected as indicated by thin arrows. The obtained flat plate-like workpiece 1 is sequentially conveyed to the downstream side by the second conveying section 22, and is placed at an arbitrary appropriate place (initial place).

In the example shown in the figure, the flat plate-like workpiece 1 obtained as described above is placed on a conveyor belt 24 provided on the downstream side of the second conveying section 22. The conveyor 24 is repeatedly conveyed and stopped by a control device (not shown). For example, when the flat-plate-shaped workpieces 1 present at the most downstream position of the belt 24 among the flat-plate-shaped workpieces 1 arranged on the conveyor belt 24 are transferred to the placement location B by the holding device 3, the conveyor belt 24 is operated to move the next flat-plate-shaped workpiece 1 to the most downstream position, and then the conveyor belt 24 is stopped. In the illustrated example, the most downstream position on the conveyor belt 24 corresponds to the initial location a.

The holding device 3 may be changed to a position where the flat plate-like workpieces 1 are aligned on the conveyor 24, and the flat plate-like workpieces 1 may be held and transferred. In this case, the operation of the conveyor belt 24 (the operation of moving the next flat plate-like workpiece 1 to the most downstream position) may not be performed, or may be performed. In this case, the arrangement position of the flat plate-like workpieces 1 on the conveyor belt 24 corresponds to the initial position a.

The holding device 3 transfers the flat plate-like workpiece 1 existing in the initial place a to the placement place B.

The holding device 3 has a holding portion that holds both end portions and an intermediate portion in the first direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 when necessary and can release the holding when necessary, and a moving mechanism that moves the holding portion in the up-down direction and the horizontal direction. The moving mechanism may move the holding portion in the tilting direction (the tilting direction is a combination of the up-down direction and the horizontal direction), or may move the holding portion in the up-down direction, the horizontal direction, and the tilting direction.

The holding portion has a function of being able to hold the surfaces of both end portions and the intermediate portion in the first direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 when necessary and to separate them when necessary. The structure of the holding portion is not particularly limited, provided that it has such a function. The holding portion preferably has a function of being attracted to the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, in order to reliably hold and release the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 and to prevent the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 from being marked by a holding mark or the like. The suction method for the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably an air suction method in order to easily hold and release the flat plate-like workpiece 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of fig. 5, which is an enlarged side view of the holding device 3 including the initial place a and the placement place B, and fig. 7 is an enlarged front view of the holding device 3 as seen from the placement place side (VII direction of fig. 6). In fig. 7, the middle portion where the same structure is continuous is omitted.

Referring to fig. 4 to 7, the holding device 3 includes an adsorption portion 5, and the adsorption portion 5 has an adsorption function capable of adsorbing and desorbing on the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1.

In relation to the suction position to the flat plate-like workpiece 1, the suction portion 5 includes suction portions 51 capable of suction and desorption at both ends of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 in the first direction, and suction portions 52 capable of suction and desorption at the intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 in the first direction. The adsorption portion 5 capable of being adsorbed and desorbed to the end portion of the flat plate-like work 1 is referred to as "end adsorption portion 51", the adsorption portion 5 capable of being adsorbed and desorbed to the intermediate portion is referred to as "intermediate adsorption portion 52", and these are collectively referred to as "adsorption portion 5".

Specifically, the holding device 3 includes a main body 31, a shaft 32 that is suspended from the main body 31, and the suction portion 5 that is provided at a lower end of the shaft 32. The body 31 is movable in a first direction. For example, the holding device 3 has a rail portion 33 extending along the first direction. The main body 31 is provided with wheels 34 that roll on the rails, and the main body 31 can reciprocate along the rails 33 in the first direction via the wheels 34.

A plurality of suction portions 5 are provided at intervals on one flat plate-like workpiece 1. The tip 5a of each suction portion 5 is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view. The tip 5a of the suction portion 5 is not limited to a substantially circular shape in plan view, and may be a substantially quadrangular shape, a substantially triangular shape, or the like.

The suction portion 5 may be formed of a relatively hard material such as a metal or a hard synthetic resin, but is preferably formed of a relatively soft material from the viewpoint of preventing damage to the flat plate-like workpiece 1. For example, the adsorbing portion 5 is formed of soft synthetic resin, rubber, elastomer, or the like.

Each suction portion 5 is attached to the main body 31 so as to be movable up and down. In the illustrated example, the shaft portion 32 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the main body portion 31, and the suction portion 5 provided at the lower end of the shaft portion 32 is moved up and down by driving the shaft portion 32. The mechanism for moving the shaft portion 32 up and down includes a rack and pinion, various cam mechanisms, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and the like.

In this case, the shaft portion 32 and the suction portion 5 may be fixedly attached to the main body 31.

A tube 35 connected to a suction device (not shown) is inserted into the shaft 32. The adsorbing portion 5 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and an end of the pipe 35 is connected to a hollow portion of the adsorbing portion 5. By operating the suction device, air is sucked from the front end 5a of the suction unit 5 through the pipe 35. The front end 5a of the suction portion 5 sucks the surface of the flat workpiece 1 by sucking air, and holds the flat workpiece 1. By stopping the suction by the suction device, the suction holding of the flat plate-like work 1 by the suction portion 5 is released. In the illustrated example, the tube 35 inserted into the shaft portion 32 extends to the outside of the shaft portion 32 in the middle, but may not extend to the outside of the shaft portion 32 in the middle.

The suction force (suction force by suction) of the suction portion 5 of the air suction system is not particularly limited, and if it is too small, the flat plate-like work 1 may fall off, and if it is too large, the flat plate-like work 1 may generate a holding mark (suction mark). From the above point of view, the suction force of the suction unit 5 is, for example, 10kPa to 90kPa.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the flat plate-like workpiece 1 and each suction portion 5, and the front end 5a of the suction portion 5 is shown in a circular shape. In fig. 8, for the sake of easy judgment of both end portions and the intermediate portion, a right oblique line is marked at one end portion in the first direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, a left oblique line is marked at the opposite end portion in the first direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, and a point is marked at the intermediate portion in the first direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 (the same applies to fig. 11).

As shown in fig. 8, the end suction portions 51 are disposed corresponding to one end portion and the opposite end portion (both end portions) of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 in the first direction, and the middle suction portion 52 is disposed corresponding to the middle portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 in the first direction. The first-direction intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is defined between the ends opposite to the first-direction one end. Therefore, the first-direction intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 may or may not include a position that is half of the first-direction length of the flat plate-like workpiece 1. Hereinafter, the first-direction one end portion may be referred to as "one end portion", the first-direction opposite-side end portion may be referred to as "opposite-side end portion", the one end portion and the opposite-side end portion may be referred to as "both end portions", and the first-direction intermediate portion may be referred to as "intermediate portion".

The end suction portions 51 may be disposed so as to correspond to one portion of one end portion and one portion of the opposite end portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, respectively, but preferably are disposed at intervals in the second direction so as to be substantially horizontal and to be transferred from the initial position a to the upper side of the placement position B. In the example shown in the figure, the end suction portions 51 corresponding to one end portion are disposed near both end portions in the second direction, and the end suction portions 51 corresponding to the opposite end portions are disposed near both end portions in the second direction. The end suction portions 51 corresponding to one end and the opposite end may be disposed not only near the two ends in the second direction but also in a second direction intermediate portion (not shown).

The middle suction portion 52 may be disposed corresponding to one portion of the middle portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, but in order to bring the flat plate-like workpiece 1 into a substantially horizontal state and transfer it from the initial position a to above the placement position B, it is preferable to dispose a plurality of the suction portions at intervals in the second direction. In the example shown in the figure, the middle suction portions 52 corresponding to the intermediate portions are disposed near both ends in the second direction, and are also disposed in the second direction intermediate portions. In fig. 7 and 8, a symbol X is given to the middle suction portion 52 disposed in the second direction intermediate portion. The middle suction portions 52 corresponding to the intermediate portions may be disposed near both ends in the second direction.

The distance between the side view end suction portion 51 and the middle suction portion 52 (the distance between the end suction portion 51 and the middle suction portion 52 in the first direction) is not particularly limited as long as the distance is such that the flat plate-like workpiece 1 can be brought into a substantially horizontal state and transferred, and may be appropriately set according to the length of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 in the first direction.

The holding device 3 moves the suction portions 5 in the up-down direction by the shaft portion 32, and moves the main body portion 31 to which the suction portions 5 are attached via the shaft portion 32 in the first direction along the rail portion 33. In the above description, the 5 rows of the flat-plate-shaped workpieces 1 are arranged along the second direction on the conveyor belt 24, and the body portion 31 and the suction portion 5 are arranged corresponding to each row of the flat-plate-shaped workpieces 1, but the arrangement is not limited to the case of being arranged corresponding to each row.

Method for transferring flat plate-like workpiece

The transfer of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 from the initial place a to the placement place B includes the steps of: a step of adsorbing the end adsorbing portions 51 to the surfaces of one end and the opposite end of the flat plate-shaped workpiece 1, respectively, and adsorbing the intermediate adsorbing portions 52 to the surface of the intermediate portion of the flat plate-shaped workpiece 1; a step of moving the suctioned flat plate-like workpiece 1 from the initial position a to above the placement position B; and a step of removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece 1 by the middle suction part 52 and then removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece 1 by the end suction part 51, thereby placing the flat plate-shaped workpiece 1 in the placement location B.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, the flat plate-like workpiece 1 existing in the initial place a is held by the holding device 3. The held flat plate-like workpiece 1 is transferred to the upper side of the placement place B. The initial location a of the illustrated example is on the conveyor belt 24 as described above. The placement location B in the example shown in the figure is a surface of a deposit of the flat plate-like workpieces 1 stored in the deposition cassette 7. The stack box 7 includes a container 71 and a pedestal 72 on which the flat plate-like workpiece 1 placed in the container 71 is placed. By sequentially stacking the flat plate-like workpieces 1 transferred by the holding device 3 on the pedestal 72, a stack of a plurality of flat plate-like workpieces 1 is generated in the stack box 7. When the transferred flat-plate workpieces 1 are stacked in this manner, the surface of the flat-plate workpiece 1 that is first placed on the pedestal 72 corresponds to the placement location B. If a predetermined amount of the flat workpiece 1 is stacked in the stacking cassette 7, the flat workpiece 1 is sent to the next step, and any appropriate process is performed on the flat workpiece 1.

Further, the stacking cassette 7 may be provided with a lifting portion 73 between the container 71 and the pedestal 72, as necessary. The lifting portion 73 is provided to maintain the position of the surface of the uppermost stage of the deposit of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 at a constant height. That is, when the flat plate-like workpieces 1 are stacked, the height of the placement location B, that is, the position of the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 that is transferred first, is gradually raised, and as a result, the height is made constant by the lifting/lowering portion 73. For example, the lifting/lowering unit 73 includes a sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the surface of the uppermost flat workpiece 1 of the stack, and lifts/lowers the stack including the pedestal 72 so that the surface of the uppermost flat workpiece 1 of the stack is at a constant height from a reference surface (e.g., a stationary surface such as a bottom surface of the container 71 or a floor surface) in accordance with information from the sensor.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 6, the suction portion 5 of the holding device 3 is lowered, and the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is sucked and held by the suction portion 5. The suction units 5 may be lowered simultaneously (simultaneously), or may be lowered with a time difference, but the suction units 5 are typically lowered simultaneously.

By bringing the leading end 5a of the suction portion 5 after the descent into contact with the flat plate-like workpiece 1 existing at the initial position a, each end suction portion 51 is sucked to one end portion and the opposite side end portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, and each middle suction portion 52 is sucked to the middle portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1. As shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 9, by simultaneously raising the shaft portions 32 (the suction portions 5), the flat workpiece 1 can be lifted from the initial position a while the flat workpiece 1 is in a substantially horizontal state. The substantially horizontal state means that the surface of the flat plate-like work 1 is substantially horizontal.

After the holding device 3 lifts the flat plate-like workpiece 1 to a predetermined height in a substantially horizontal state (in a side view linear state), the main body 31 moves along the rail 33 as shown in fig. 9, and moves the flat plate-like workpiece 1 to above the placement location B. In this way, the flat workpiece 1 is moved to the upper side of the placement position B while being kept substantially horizontal, and therefore, a small amount of deformation or the like of the flat workpiece 1 does not occur.

Next, the suction portion 52 is released from suction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 transferred to the upper side of the placement location B. When the suction of the middle suction portion 52 is released and the end suction portion 51 is kept in a sucked state, as shown in fig. 10, the middle portion of the flat plate-like work 1 having flexibility sags due to its own weight. Thus, the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is slightly bent so that the middle portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is positioned below the both end portions in side view. Hereinafter, a state in which the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is bent so that the intermediate portion is located below the both end portions is sometimes referred to as a "bent state of protruding downward". By releasing the suction of the end suction portion 51 to the plate-like work 1 in the bent state protruding downward, the middle portion of the plate-like work 1 contacts the placement location B earlier than the both end portions. Therefore, the edge of the transferred flat plate-like workpiece 1 is less likely to contact the surface of the placement site B (in the illustrated example, the surface of the uppermost flat plate-like workpiece 1 of the deposit).

The height position of the flat workpiece 1 when the suction of the end suction portion 51 is released is not particularly limited, and if the flat workpiece 1 is too far from the placement position B, the flat workpiece 1 in a bent state that is convex downward may be straight or convex upward in side view during the falling, and if the flat workpiece 1 is too close to the placement position B, the flat workpiece 1 is sandwiched between the suction portion 5 and the placement position B, and a small amount of pressing force is applied to the flat workpiece 1, and there is a possibility that the adhesive of the workpiece 1 bulges out from the end face of the adhesive layer.

From the above point of view, it is preferable to release the suction of the end suction portion 51 when the height H of the back surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 relative to the placement position B exceeds zero and is 500mm or less, and it is more preferable to release the suction of the end suction portion 51 when the height H exceeds zero and is 300mm or less. As shown in fig. 10, the height H of the back surface of the flat workpiece 1 with respect to the placement position B is the length between the placement position B and the back surface of one end of the flat workpiece 1.

In addition, when the end suction portion 51 is released from suction at the position of the height H, the intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 protruding downward may or may not contact the placement position B, but in either case, the intermediate portion of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 contacts the placement position B earlier than the both end portions by releasing suction of the end suction portion 51.

When the flat workpiece 1 is transferred from the initial position a to the upper side of the placement position B, the suction of the intermediate suction portion 52 is released and the suction of the end suction portion 51 is released when the flat workpiece 1 is positioned at the height H.

On the other hand, when the flat workpiece 1 is transferred from the initial position a to the upper side of the placement position B, the flat workpiece 1 is preferably lowered to the height H together with the suction portion 5 when the flat workpiece 1 is located above the height H. In this way, when the flat workpiece 1 located above the placement position B is lowered, the flat workpiece 1 may be lowered while the suction of the middle suction portion 52 is released and the end suction portion 51 is kept sucked (that is, while the flat workpiece 1 is in a bent state of being convex downward), or the flat workpiece 1 may be lowered while the middle suction portion 52 and the end suction portion 51 are kept sucked (that is, while the flat workpiece 1 is in a substantially horizontal state). In the latter case, the suction of the middle suction portion 52 is released after the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is lowered to the height H in a substantially horizontal state, and the flat plate-like workpiece 1 is brought into a bent state protruding downward at the height position.

By placing the flat workpiece 1 in the placement position B in the bent state protruding downward in this manner, the intermediate portion of the flat workpiece 1 contacts the placement position B earlier than the both end portions, and thus the adhesive of the transferred flat workpiece 1 can be prevented from adhering to the placement position B (for example, the surface of the flat workpiece 1 transferred earlier). By sequentially repeating this operation, a plurality of flat plate-like workpieces 1 can be stacked in the stack box 7.

In particular, the adhesive tends to bulge on the end face of the adhesive layer formed of a relatively soft adhesive, and in the conventional transfer method, the adhesive due to the flat work 1 tends to adhere to the placement site B. In this regard, according to the transfer method of the present invention, even in the case of transferring the flat plate-like work 1 having the relatively soft adhesive layer, the placement site B can be prevented from being contaminated with the adhesive.

Modification example

In the above embodiment, the end suction portions 51 and the middle suction portions 52 are each provided in plural at intervals in the second direction, but for example, as shown in fig. 11 and 12, the end suction portions 51 and/or the middle suction portions 52 may be formed in a substantially flat strip shape extending through the entire second direction.

According to the end suction portions 51 and the middle suction portions 52, both end portions of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 and the middle suction portions 52 can be sucked and held substantially entirely in the second direction. The end suction portion 51 and the middle suction portion 52 are constituted by, for example, a suction surface portion 5b formed of soft synthetic resin, rubber, or the like, and a plurality of holes 5c formed in the surface of the suction surface portion 5b and sucking air.

Further, even if the plurality of dot-shaped end suction portions 51 and the middle suction portion 52 such as the circular shape in plan view as in the above-described embodiment are arranged continuously without any gap along the second direction of the flat plate-like workpiece 1, the same effects as those of the flat-strip-shaped end suction portions 51 and the middle suction portion 52 shown in fig. 11 and 12 are exhibited.

In the above embodiment, the initial position a is on the conveyor 24, and the placement position B is on the stack of the plurality of flat plate-like workpieces 1 (the surface of the flat plate-like workpiece 1 that is transferred first), but for example, as shown in fig. 13, the initial position a may be on the stack of the plurality of flat plate-like workpieces 1, the placement position B may be on the arbitrary table 8, or the like. The initial position a and the placement position B are not limited to the conveyor belt 24, the deposit, and the operation table, and the present invention can be applied to the case where the flat plate-like workpiece 1 located at an arbitrary position is transferred to an arbitrary position.

In the above embodiment, the flat-plate workpiece 1 existing in the initial place a is held by the holding device 3 and lifted, and then transferred to the upper side of the placement place B, but the flat-plate workpiece 1 existing in the initial place a may be held (not lifted) by the holding device 3 and moved in the horizontal direction to be transferred to the upper side of the placement place B.

Claims

1. A transfer method for a flat workpiece, wherein the flat workpiece is held by a holding device, the flat workpiece having flexibility and being present in an initial place, is moved to a place above a placement place, and is placed in the placement place,

the flat-shaped workpiece has a first film, a second film, and an adhesive layer provided between the first film and the second film,

the flat plate-shaped workpiece is placed on the placement location in a state in which the flat plate-shaped workpiece is bent such that a first-direction intermediate portion of the flat plate-shaped workpiece is positioned below both first-direction end portions in a side view.

2. A transfer method for a flat workpiece, wherein the flat workpiece is held by a holding device, the flat workpiece having flexibility and being present in an initial place, is moved to a place above a placement place, and is placed in the placement place,

the flat plate-shaped workpiece is placed on the placement site such that the first-direction intermediate portion of the flat plate-shaped workpiece contacts the placement site earlier than the first-direction end portions.

3. The transfer method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding device lifts the flat workpiece from the initial place in a substantially horizontal state, and moves the flat workpiece to above the placement place in the state.

4. The method for transferring a flat plate-like workpiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the holding device is provided with an end adsorption part and a middle adsorption part which can be adsorbed and desorbed at two end parts and a middle part of the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the first direction,

the method for transferring the flat plate-shaped workpiece comprises the following steps:

a step of adsorbing the end adsorbing portions to the surfaces of both end portions of the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the first direction, and adsorbing the intermediate adsorbing portions to the surfaces of the intermediate portion of the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the first direction;

a step of moving the suctioned flat-plate-shaped workpiece from the initial place to above a placement place;

and a step of removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece by the middle suction portion and then removing the suction of the flat plate-shaped workpiece by the end suction portion, thereby placing the flat plate-shaped workpiece in the placement location.

5. The transfer method of a flat plate-like workpiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each end face of the first film and the second film extends parallel to the end face of the adhesive layer around the flat plate-like workpiece.

6. The transfer method of a flat plate-like workpiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first film of the flat plate-like workpiece comprises a polarizing film.