JP2005335039A - Sucking/retaining device for panel transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a panel transporting sucking/retaining device transporting a plurality of panels (liquid crystal indication panel, for instance) through their simultaneous suction, which allows suitable adjustment of the distance between panels even during their transport. <P>SOLUTION: The panel transport-use sucking/retaining device 100 comprises: a support arm 120 having a grip 110; a plurality of suction heads 130a-130f held by the support arm 120 and connected with negative pressure sources through pipes 141 and 142; and a selector valve 151 designed to selectively shift the pressure within the suction head to the negative pressure source-based negative pressure and an atmospheric pressure. The device 100 simultaneously sucks and transports a plurality of panels arranged at least in a single row on a tray. The individual suction heads 130a-130f are supported by the support arm 120 through transport means for controlling the distance between the individual suction heads. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction holder for panel transportation, and more particularly to a suction holder for panel transportation for sucking and transporting a plurality of panels having a flat surface such as a liquid crystal display panel at a time. .

  If the transported panel is described as, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, an anisotropic conductive film is preliminarily attached to the panel terminal portion in order to connect a flexible substrate such as a COF (chip on film) to the liquid crystal display panel as one of the manufacturing processes. There is a step of attaching (ACF).

  Normally, anisotropic conductive films are supplied as tapes wound on reels from manufacturers, so in the mass production process, a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 1 are arranged with their panel terminal portions 1a side aligned as shown in FIG. After arranging them in a line, an anisotropic conductive film is pasted together on each panel terminal portion 1a.

  By the way, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is carried to the ACF adhering step in a state where a large number of the liquid crystal display panels 1 are stored in the tray T as shown in FIG. Since the inside of the tray T is partitioned in a lattice pattern by the vertical and horizontal middle partitions Ts so that the liquid crystal display panels 1 are not in contact with each other and damaged, the anisotropic conductive film cannot be pasted as it is.

  Accordingly, the anisotropic conductive film 1b which is taken out from each storage section of the tray T and arranged in a line on the work table WT as shown in FIG. Although the attachment is performed in a lump, if the liquid crystal display panels 1 are taken out from the tray T one by one, the work efficiency is poor.

  In order to solve this point, the present applicant has proposed, as Patent Document 1, a panel transporting suction holder that allows a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 1 to be taken out from the tray T, for example, in units of one row. The configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  The panel transport suction holder 10 has a grip 11 having a predetermined length, and a support arm 12 is attached to one end of the grip 11 so as to be substantially T-shaped. A plurality of (six in this example) suction heads 13 are supported on the support arm 12 at intervals corresponding to the storage sections of the tray T.

  Each suction head 13 is connected to a negative pressure source such as a vacuum pump (not shown) via a pipe material. In this example, one trunk pipe 14 and two branch pipes 15a and 15b are used as the pipe material. It has been.

  That is, the trunk pipe 14 is piped along the grip 11, one end of which is connected to the negative pressure source, the branch pipes 15a and 15b are branched into two branches from the other end of the trunk pipe 14, and one of the branch pipes 15a. 8 is connected to the three suction heads 13 on the left side, and the other branch pipe 15a is connected to the three suction heads 13 on the right side.

  The trunk pipe 14 is provided with a switching valve 16 having a negative pressure button 16a and a decompression button 16b. Each suction head 13 is connected to a negative pressure source when the negative pressure button 16a is pressed, and each suction head 13 is disconnected from the negative pressure source to atmospheric pressure when the pressure release button 16b is pressed.

  Therefore, according to this panel transporting suction holding tool 10, by pressing the negative pressure button 16a, for example, six liquid crystal display panels 1 included in the same row from the tray T can be sucked and held at the same time, and the work table WT. The six liquid crystal display panels 1 can be placed side by side on the work table WT by pushing the depressurization button 16b after being carried up.

JP 2000-108066 A

  As described above, according to the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to surely take out a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 1 from the tray T at the same time and transfer them onto the work table WT. However, there is still room for resolution.

  That is, since each liquid crystal display panel 1 is transferred onto the work table WT at the same interval stored in each storage section of the tray T, when the anisotropic conductive film 1b is pasted in this state, the amount corresponding to the interval is obtained. Is wasted.

  Therefore, after the liquid crystal display panels 1 are transferred onto the work table WT, the liquid crystal display panels 1 are arranged so as to fill the gaps between them. Work improvement is required.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a panel transport suction capable of sucking and transporting a plurality of panels having a flat surface such as a liquid crystal display panel arranged in at least one row in a tray at a time. In the holder, the interval between the panels can be appropriately adjusted during panel conveyance.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a support arm having a grip, a plurality of suction heads supported by the support arm, each of which is connected to a negative pressure source via a pipe, A switching valve for selectively switching the pressure between the negative pressure by the negative pressure source and the atmospheric pressure, and a panel for adsorbing and transporting a plurality of panels arranged in at least one row in the tray at a time In the transport suction holder, the suction heads are supported by the support arm so as to be movable through the moving means so that the distance between them can be adjusted.

  In the present invention, the moving means may be a moving means whose replacement positions are determined at several locations. However, in order to enable linear fine adjustment, the moving means is accommodated in the tray. It is preferable to include guide means provided on the support arm side in parallel with the arrangement direction of the panels, and a movable table provided on the suction head side and slidable along the guide means. . The guide means includes either a guide rail or a guide groove.

  Even if the interval between the panels can be adjusted, a stopper means for defining the minimum interval between the suction heads is provided between the suction heads in order to prevent damage due to impact collision between the panels. It is preferable that

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the stopper means comprises a bolt screwed in a variable amount of protrusion so as to come into contact with the other suction head on the side of at least one of the two adjacent suction heads. According to the configuration, no special parts are required, so that the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the suction heads are arranged in the tray between the support arm and the suction heads so that the suction heads can be easily returned to the initial interval (initial position). It is preferable that positioning means for positioning at a suction position corresponding to each of the panels is provided.

  In the present invention, in order to easily move each of the suction heads, the positioning means is spring-biased by an engagement groove formed in one of the support arm and the suction head and the other. It is preferable that it comprises a click engaging means including an engaging convex portion that is provided in a closed state and is detachably engaged with the engaging groove with a predetermined click force.

  According to the present invention, since each suction head can adjust the distance between them to the support arm via the moving means, a plurality of panels arranged in at least one row in the tray are sucked at a time. The interval between the panels can be adjusted as appropriate when transporting.

  In particular, if the panel to be transported is a liquid crystal display panel, the distance between the liquid crystal display panels before lowering it on the work table so that the anisotropic conductive film can be stuck together without waste on each panel terminal. Workability is further improved.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. 1 is a plan view showing a suction holder for transporting a panel according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing a preferred embodiment, and FIG. It is a BB sectional view.

  With reference to FIG. 1, this panel transporting suction holder 100 includes a grip 110 and a support arm 120 attached to one end of the grip 110. In this example, the grip 110 is made of a plate material as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 8, but may be a cylindrical body or a prismatic body. The support arm 120 is preferably attached to the grip 110 for ease of use in a T shape. The material of the grip 110 and the support arm 120 may be arbitrarily selected as long as they are not easily deformed.

  The panel conveyance suction holder 100 in this example is intended to take out the liquid crystal display panel 1 accommodated in the tray T described in FIG. 6 in units of horizontal examples. It has a length corresponding to the horizontal width of the tray T. Note that six horizontal liquid crystal display panels 1 are included in one horizontal row in the tray T, and each liquid crystal display panel 1 is stored in each storage section with the direction of the panel terminal portion 1a aligned.

  The support arm 120 is provided with six suction heads 130a to 130f. Since each of the suction heads 130a to 130f has the same configuration, the reference numeral 130 is used as a generic name of the suction head when there is no need to describe them individually.

  The suction heads 130 are arranged side by side along the length direction of the support arm 120. In order to make the suction heads 130 movable, the support arms 120 include guide rails 121 as the guide means. Yes. In this example, a rectangular opening 122 is formed in the support arm 120 in parallel with the guide rail 121, and each suction head 130 is disposed in the opening 122, but the opening 122 has an arbitrary configuration. Is an element.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the suction head 130 includes a moving base 131 that slides along the guide rail 121. A guide groove 131a that fits into the guide rail 121 is formed on the movable base 131. However, it is preferable that the side surface of the guide rail 121 and the inner surface of the guide groove 131a have reverse taper surfaces so that they do not easily fall off. . As a modified example, a guide groove may be formed on the support arm 120 side, and a guide protrusion that slides in the guide groove may be formed on the moving base 131 side.

  A joint pipe 133 is held on the moving table 131 through a stay 132 so as to penetrate the opening 122. A suction cup 134 is supported at the lower end of the joint pipe 133. The suction cup 134 is preferably made of a rubber elastic body and comes into airtight contact with the display unit of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, a stem pipe 141 is provided on the grip 110, and one end thereof is connected to a negative pressure source such as a vacuum pump (not shown). The other end of the trunk pipe 141 reaches the distributor 152 via the switching valve 151, and six branch pipes 142 are branched from the distributor 152. Each branch pipe 142 is connected to a joint pipe 133 of each suction head 130. Since each suction head 130 is movable, the branch pipe 142 is preferably a soft and flexible pipe material such as a bellows tube so that it can follow its movement.

  The switching valve 151 may be the same as the switching valve used in the conventional example. That is, the switching valve 151 includes a negative pressure button 151a for selecting a communication stage and a pressure release button 151b for selecting a shut-off stage. By pressing the negative pressure button 151a, each suction head 130 is communicated with a negative pressure source, and is released. By pressing the pressure button 151b, each suction head 130 is disconnected from the negative pressure source and released to the atmosphere.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, an example of use of the panel carrying suction holder 100 will be described. After adjusting the interval between the suction heads 130 to the interval (initial interval) between the storage sections of the tray T, the suction cup 134 of each suction head 130 is brought into contact with the display unit of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in each storage section. Press the negative pressure button 151a. As a result, the six liquid crystal display panels 1 for one horizontal row in the tray T are simultaneously sucked by the suction heads 130.

  Then, the panel holding suction holder 100 is lifted from the tray T, and the intervals between the suction heads 130 are adjusted so that the liquid crystal display panels 1 are arranged almost without gaps. Then, the suction heads 130 are transferred to the work table WT shown in FIG. The button 151b is pressed to release each liquid crystal display panel 1 on the work table WT.

  According to this, the anisotropic conductive film 1b is applied to each panel terminal portion 1a in the released state without performing the work of reducing the interval between the liquid crystal display panels 1 on the work table WT as in the prior art. Can be pasted together.

  In addition, when adjusting the space | interval of each suction head 130, it is preferable to adjust a space | interval on the basis of any one suction head 130. FIG. For example, the other suction heads 130b to 130f are sequentially moved toward the suction head 130a with reference to the suction head 130a disposed at the right end in FIG. In this case, the reference suction head 130 a may be fixed to the support arm 120.

  According to the present invention, the interval between the suction heads 130 can be arbitrarily adjusted as described above. However, if care is not taken, the liquid crystal display panels 1 may collide with each other shockingly and be damaged in the worst case. There is.

  In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to provide stopper means 160 for defining a minimum interval between the suction heads 130. Here, the minimum interval between the suction heads 130 is an interval when almost no gap is generated between the suction-held liquid crystal display panels 1.

  As the stopper means 160, a proximity switch capable of detecting a nearby object in a non-contact manner can be used, but a bolt 161 is preferably used from the viewpoint of simplification of the apparatus and availability. The bolt 161 is screwed in a variable amount of protrusion so as to come into contact with the other suction head on the side of at least one of the two adjacent suction heads.

  In the example of FIG. 3, among the two adjacent suction heads 130a and 130b, the bolt 161 is screwed to the one suction head 130b side so as to have a variable projection amount. Of the two adjacent suction heads 130b and 130c, the bolt 161 is screwed to one of the suction heads 130c so as to have a variable projection amount. The bolts 161 are similarly screwed to the other suction heads 130d to 130f.

  According to this, the minimum space | interval of each adsorption | suction head 130 can be easily set by turning the volt | bolt 161 and adjusting the protrusion amount. As a modification, the bolt 161 may be provided in even-numbered suction heads 130b, 130d, and 130f, for example.

  In this case, the bolts 161 are provided on both sides of the suction heads 130b and 130d, and are provided only on the right side of the suction head 130f at the left end. In this example, the bolt 161 is provided on the moving base 131, but it may be provided on the stay 132.

  In the case where a proximity switch is used as the stopper means 160, a proximity switch may be installed at the tip of the bolt 161 having a variable protrusion amount, and a sensitive substance of the proximity switch may be installed on the other side corresponding to the tip of the bolt 161. .

  Each suction head 130 releases the liquid crystal display panel 1 onto the work table WT and then returns to the initial interval (initial position) in preparation for taking out the next horizontal example in the tray T. Accordingly, positioning means is provided between the support arm 20 and each of the suction heads 130 in order to facilitate the return operation to the initial interval.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the click engagement means 170 preferably employed as an example of the positioning means will be described. In order to incorporate the click engagement means 170, an engagement groove 171 is formed on the support arm 120 side. The engagement groove 171 is preferably a hemispherical recess, but may be a conical recess.

  On the other hand, a vertical hole 131b is formed on the bottom surface side of the moving table 131 of each suction head 130, and the engagement ball 172 is accommodated in the vertical hole 131b while being biased by a spring 173. As the engagement ball 172, a sphere having a size that a part thereof engages with the engagement groove 171 is used. Instead of the engaging ball 172, an engaging convex portion (for example, a claw-like member) partially engaging with the engaging groove 171 may be used. Further, the strength of the engagement force can be adjusted by the spring 173.

  According to the click engaging means 170, since the engaging ball 172 is detached from the engaging groove 171 by applying a lateral force to the moving base 131, the interval between the suction heads 130 can be arbitrarily adjusted. Further, after that, in order to return each suction head 130 to the initial interval, it is only necessary to slide the moving base 131 until the engaging ball 172 engages with the engaging groove 171, so that workability is improved. Note that the engagement groove 171 may be formed on the moving base 131 side, and the engagement ball 172 and the spring 173 may be provided on the support arm 120 side.

  The suction holder for transporting a panel of the present invention is suitable for transporting a liquid crystal display panel, but can also be used for transporting a bare board circuit board, a wafer substrate used for manufacturing a semiconductor, a normal glass substrate, and the like. it can.

The top view which shows an example of the adsorption holder for panel conveyance by this invention. AA sectional view taken on the line AA of FIG. The principal part enlarged plan view which shows preferable embodiment of this invention. BB sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which arrange | positions several liquid crystal display panels in a line with a panel terminal part aligned. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a liquid crystal display panel is stored in a tray. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a plurality of liquid crystal display panels are arranged in a row on a work table. The perspective view which shows the conventional adsorption holder for panel conveyance.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Panel conveyance holder 110 Grip 120 Support arm 121 Guide rail 130 (130a-130f) Adsorption head 131 Moving stand 133 Joint pipe 134 Adsorption cup 141 Trunk pipe 142 Branch pipe 151 Switching valve 152 Distributor 160 Stopper means 161 Bolt 170 Click engagement means 171 engagement groove 172 engagement ball

Claims (6)

A support arm having a grip; a plurality of suction heads supported by the support arm, each of which is connected to a negative pressure source via a pipe; and the pressure in each suction head is increased by a negative pressure generated by the negative pressure source. In a panel transport suction holder for sucking and transporting a plurality of panels arranged at least in a line in the tray at a time, including a switching valve that selectively switches to atmospheric pressure,
A suction holder for panel transportation, wherein each of the suction heads is movably supported by the support arm via a moving means so that the distance between them can be adjusted.   The moving means is slidable along the guide means provided on the support arm side and parallel to the arrangement direction of the panels accommodated in the tray, and provided on the suction head side. The suction holder for panel conveyance according to claim 1, further comprising a movable table.   The panel holding suction holder according to claim 1, wherein stopper means for defining a minimum interval between the suction heads is provided.   4. The panel conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the stopper means comprises a bolt that is screwed in a protruding amount so as to come into contact with the other suction head on at least one of the two adjacent suction heads. Adsorption holder.   5. A positioning means is provided between the support arm and each suction head for positioning each suction head at a suction position corresponding to each panel arranged in the tray. The suction holder for panel conveyance according to any one of the above.   The positioning means is provided in an engagement groove formed in one of the support arm and the suction head and in a state of being spring-biased in the other, and is detached from the engagement groove with a predetermined click force. The panel holding suction holder according to claim 5, comprising click engaging means including an engaging convex portion that can be engaged.

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