JP2001196438A - Apparatus for conveying thin plate-like material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convey a large-sized thin plate-like material such as a glass substrate or the like used to manufacture a liquid crystal display panel requiring contamination prevention or the like without slip-down. SOLUTION: The apparatus for conveying the thin-plate-like material supports one end and the other end of the material 1 by driven stepped rollers 2a, 2b, injects pressurized gas from a gas jet table 4 under the material 1 toward the material 1, and conveys the material 1 while holding the material 1 not to excessively deflect due its own weight.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for transporting a thin plate-like material such as a glass substrate or a laminated material obtained by laminating a polymer film on a metal foil used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as is well known, a glass substrate is used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel. However, as the size of a display for a liquid crystal display increases, the size of the glass substrate becomes larger and thinner. Is being promoted.

For example, a glass substrate having a width (W) of 650 mm, a length (L) of 830 mm, and a thickness (t) of 0.7 mm has come to be used and a thinner glass substrate has been used. It is being considered.

[0004]

However, the thinning of the glass substrate makes it difficult to transport the glass substrate because the substrate itself is easily deformed, and the conventional general transport technology cannot cope with the problem. Came.

That is, in the related art, a transfer device configured to be able to transfer the glass substrate while supporting the glass substrate by contacting the lower surface of one end and the other end of the glass substrate has been used. However, even if it is suitable for transporting a relatively small and thick glass substrate, if a large and thin glass substrate is transported by such an apparatus, such a glass substrate is bent by its own weight and excessively bent. Causes a problem of being easily displaced, dropped or damaged, and the amount of deflection thereof changes during conveyance, which easily causes vibration and undulation, thus causing dust and noise. Therefore, it is not suitable for transporting a large-sized thin glass substrate.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and has as its object to shift a thin plate-like material such as a large-thin glass substrate into a sheet. An object of the present invention is to provide a transport device capable of favorably transporting such that no damage or breakage occurs.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like material conveying apparatus which achieves the above object by contacting the lower surfaces of one end and the other end of the sheet-like material. In a transfer device configured to be able to transfer while supporting a thin plate-shaped material, gas injection for injecting pressurized gas toward a lower surface of the thin plate-shaped material so that bending of the thin plate-shaped material due to its own weight is not excessive. It is characterized by having a table attached.

As described above, since the gas injection table for injecting the pressurized gas toward the lower surface of the thin sheet material is mounted so that the deflection of the thin sheet material to be conveyed does not become excessive due to its own weight, it is displaced. The thin plate-shaped material can be satisfactorily conveyed so as not to cause breakage or the like.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. 1. A transport device for transporting a thin plate 1 is shown. Of the sheet-like material 1 with the stepped roller 2a of
Is configured to be supported and transported.

As shown in the figure, one stepped roller 2a is mounted so as to be able to contact and support the lower surface of one end of the thin plate-shaped material 1 and the other stepped roller 2a.
a is attached so as to be able to contact and support the lower surface of the other end of the thin plate-shaped material 1.

In addition, these stepped rollers 2a, 2b
Are mounted on the shafts 3a and 3b mounted so as to be able to be driven and rotated in synchronization with a driving device (not shown). The reference step (fixed side) stepped roller 2a and the other stepped roller 2a are adjusted so that the distance between the rollers can be adjusted.
b is mounted movably in the horizontal direction (the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2).

The mounting pitch of one stepped roller 2a is the same as that of the other stepped roller 2b,
Moreover, both are mounted on the same level. For that reason,
The thin plate 1 can be conveyed from right to left in FIG. 1 by the frictional force generated by the contact of the stepped rollers 2a and 2b with the lower surfaces at one end and the other end of the thin plate 1.

In addition, a gas injection table 4 is arranged between one stepped roller 2a and the other stepped roller 2b, and the gas injection table 4 is located on the lower surface side of the thin plate material 1. And it is mounted so that it can approach and separate from the lower surface of the thin plate-shaped material 1.

Therefore, by operating the compressor 5 and pressurizing and supplying the gas to the gas injection table 4 through the pipe 6,
Pressurized gas can be injected toward the lower surface of the thin plate 1, and at this time, the gas injection table 4 is moved toward and away from the lower surface of the thin plate 1 and positioned at a predetermined level, The injection amount is controlled to a predetermined value so that the bending of the thin sheet material 1 due to its own weight does not become excessive.

The approach and separation of the gas injection table 4 with respect to the lower surface of the thin plate-shaped material 1 are performed by moving a base plate (not shown) on which the compressor 5 and the like are mounted horizontally by means of elevating means (for example, an air cylinder or the like). It can be done by moving.

When the pressurized gas is injected, the pipe 6
The valve 7 is opened and closed. The valve 7 is controlled to open and close by a signal from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the thin plate 1. At that time, as shown in the figure, a pressurized gas may be injected so as to keep the thin plate material 1 in a substantially horizontal state.

Therefore, according to the transfer device, even when the thin plate-shaped material 1 is large, the thin plate-shaped material 1 is bent by its own weight and becomes excessively bent during the transfer or the like. In addition, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of troubles such as breakage or the like, and furthermore, it is possible to keep the change in the amount of bending substantially constant, thereby effectively preventing the occurrence of vibration and undulation. Problems such as generation of dust and noise can be solved.

The above-described transport device may be installed not only horizontally but also at a predetermined angle in the downward direction in the transport direction of the thin sheet material 1.

Examples of the thin plate-like material 1 include a glass substrate used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel and a plasma display device, an amorphous silicon vapor-deposited substrate used for manufacturing a solar cell, and a circuit substrate. Although a laminated material obtained by laminating a polymer film on a polymer film substrate or a metal foil used for, or an undried metal thin plate that has been subjected to a treatment such as painting or washing, these may be mentioned.
In order to prevent contamination and the like, it is required that both ends be supported and transported.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the above-mentioned glass substrate having a width (W) and a length (L), generally, the peripheral portion (d is about 5 mm) is supported. Transport is allowed.

The stepped rollers 2a and 2b may be coaxially mounted as shown in FIG.
In this example, the stepped roller 2b is mounted on the shaft 3 so that its mounting position can be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of gas injection tables 4 may be provided, the number of which can be appropriately selected as needed. It can be provided in various forms, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, reference numeral 8 denotes a gas ejection hole.

The gas supplied to the gas injection table 4 is generally purified air, but an inert gas or the like can be selected as necessary.

The embodiment of the transfer device according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described stepped roller transfer device, but may be an endless track type as shown in FIG. It may be a transfer device.

In FIG. 10 which is a front view, the wheel is bridged between a chain wheel 11 mounted on the left drive shaft 10 and a chain wheel mounted on a drive shaft similarly provided on the right side (not shown). Fingers 13a are mounted on the endless chain 12 at a constant pitch.

Although FIG. 1 shows only a state in which one end of the thin plate 1 is supported by the fingers 13a, the other end of the thin plate 1 is also similarly driven on the left side. The wheel is supported by fingers mounted at a fixed pitch on an endless chain that is bridged between one of the wheel wheels mounted on the wheel 10 and the other wheel wheel mounted on the right drive shaft.

More specifically, in FIG. 11, one end of the thin plate 1 is supported by the left finger 13a, and the other end is supported by the right finger 13b. The upper end of one finger 13a is inclined downward from left to right, and the upper end of the other finger 13b is inclined downward from right to left.

Therefore, according to this transfer device, the thin plate 1 is transferred in the same direction by rotating the pair of endless chains 12 in a predetermined direction, that is, the lower end of one end and the other end of the thin plate 1 On the other hand, the thin plates 1 are supported by bringing the upper ends of the fingers 13a and 13b into contact with each other, and can be conveyed to the right or left in FIG.

At this time, pressurized gas is injected from the gas injection table 4 disposed below the thin plate 1 toward the lower surface of the thin plate 1, so that the thin plate 1 becomes large. Even during transport, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of troubles such as the thin plate-shaped material 1 being bent by its own weight, being excessively bent, and being displaced or damaged during transportation, and the like. Since the change in the amount of flexure can be kept substantially constant and the generation of vibration and undulation can be effectively prevented, problems such as generation of dust and noise can be solved.

A plurality of gas injection tables 4 are connected in the direction of extension (the left-right direction in FIG. 10), and the injection of pressurized gas from these gas injection tables 4 Is not limited to being sprayed so as to maintain a substantially horizontal state (see FIG. 11), but may be sprayed so as to keep the thin sheet material 1 in a curved state as shown in FIG. In short, the pressurized gas may be injected toward the lower surface of the thin plate 1 so that the deflection of the thin plate 1 due to its own weight is not excessive.

As shown in FIG. 13, the gas injection table 4 is provided so that it can be moved from the center to the right position shown by the broken line, or conversely to the left. You may.

Further, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the thin plate-shaped material 1 is provided at a predetermined position, and the pressurized gas is injected from the gas injection table 4 immediately before passing through the sensor, and the injection is stopped immediately after the passage. Good.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, even in the case of a large-sized thin plate, the thin plate is bent by its own weight and excessively bent during transportation or the like. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of troubles such as slippage or breakage, and it is possible to keep such a change in the amount of bending substantially constant, thereby effectively preventing the occurrence of vibration and undulation. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a transfer device that can also solve the problem of generating dust and noise. In particular, a transfer device suitable for transferring a glass substrate used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a stepped roller type transfer device.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a glass substrate.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another mounting mode of the stepped roller.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another mounting mode of the gas injection table.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a gas injection table.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another mode of the gas injection table.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another mode of the gas injection table.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another mode of the gas injection table.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the endless track transfer device.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which a pressurized gas is jetted toward the lower surface of the sheet material to keep the sheet material in a substantially horizontal state.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which a pressurized gas is jetted toward a lower surface of the sheet material to keep the sheet material in a curved state.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a mode in which the gas injection table is moved below the thin plate material in the horizontal direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: sheet-like material 2a, 2b: stepped roller 4: gas injection table 8: gas injection hole 11: chain wheel 12: endless chain 13a, 13b: finger

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 5/22 B65H 5/22 A F term (Reference) 3F049 FA05 LA15 5F031 CA05 GA53 GA62 PA13

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transport device configured to be capable of transporting a thin plate while supporting the thin plate by contacting the lower surfaces of one end and the other end of the thin plate, wherein the deflection of the thin plate due to its own weight is excessive. An apparatus for transporting a thin plate, wherein a gas injection table for injecting a pressurized gas toward a lower surface of the thin plate is mounted so as not to be disturbed. 2. The thin plate conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas injection table is mounted so as to be able to approach and separate from a lower surface of the thin plate. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thin plate is a glass substrate.