JP2006293114A - Assembling machine and method of display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembling machine and method of a display panel that can transfer the display panel to the next step, when manufacturing, without trouble, after assembling its substrate by connecting to a connector. <P>SOLUTION: This machine supports the substrate 6 from below with the support 34 so as not to hang down, when transferring the display panel 23 assembled by connecting its substrate 6 to the connector 10 bonded to the edge of the panel 9 to the next step, by supplying gas to a pneumatic cylinder 31 and selectively moving the support 34 to the support position S1 so as to support the substrate 6 from below or to the nonsupport position S2. Thus, it can transfer the display panel 23 to the next production step without troubles. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display panel assembling apparatus and assembling method for assembling a display panel by connecting a substrate to an edge of the panel.

A display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel is assembled by connecting a substrate on which electronic components for a driver are mounted to an edge portion of a glass panel via a resin bendable connector. In the assembly process of the display panel, a plurality of connectors bonded in advance to the edge of the panel are pressed against a connection part such as a connection electrode formed on the substrate with a crimping tool (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). .
Japanese Patent No. 3246282

  During the above-described crimping operation, the substrate is placed on and supported by the substrate placing table. However, since the display panel assembled after the crimping operation is carried out is carried out to the next process, the support state of the substrate by the substrate mounting table is released. The substrate that has been released from the support is bent by its own weight and hangs downward from the edge of the panel. As described above, when the substrate hangs down from the panel, there is a problem in that the substrate is likely to hinder the next panel from being carried out by colliding with surrounding objects. Such problems have become more prominent in recent years as panels have become larger.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display panel assembling apparatus and an assembling method which can carry out the display panel after being assembled by connecting the substrate to the connector without any trouble.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a display panel assembling apparatus for assembling a display panel by connecting a bendable connector previously bonded to an edge of the panel and a connecting portion formed on the substrate. A panel placement table to be placed; a substrate placement table to place a substrate; and a position alignment in which the connector and the connection portion are aligned by relatively moving the panel placement table and the substrate placement table. Means, a crimping part that crimps and connects the connector and the connection part with a crimping tool, and a support device that supports the substrate that is crimped and connected to the connector with the crimping tool from below. The apparatus supports the substrate from below by supplying and discharging gas from the pneumatic cylinder provided on the panel mounting table side and the port of the pneumatic cylinder. A substrate support that selectively moves to an unsupported position that is not supported by the device, a joint portion that is detachably connected to the port, contact / separation means that contacts and separates the joint portion from the port, and the joint And a gas supply part for supplying gas to the port through the part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the joint portion includes a hollow pad that contacts and separates from the port and a resilient member that resiliently ejects the pad toward the port.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fixing device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, further comprising a fixing means for fixing the support at the support position and / or the non-support position so that the support can be fixed and released.

The invention according to claim 4 is a display panel assembling method for assembling a display panel by connecting a bendable connector bonded in advance to an edge of the panel and a connecting portion formed on the substrate. A step of relatively moving the placed panel placing table and the placed substrate placing table on which the substrate is placed to align the connector and the connecting portion; and the crimping portion crimps the connector and the connecting portion. Connecting the display panel to the pneumatic cylinder port of the support device that supports the substrate from below, and assembling the display panel by connecting the gas supply unit, and supplying and discharging gas from the port Then, the rod of the pneumatic cylinder is operated, and the support body coupled to the rod is moved to the support position of the substrate to support the substrate connected to the connector from below. A step of unloading the display panel on the panel mounting table to the next step while the substrate is supported from below by the support, and after the unloading, supplying and discharging gas from the port And reversely operating the cylinder to move the support to the unsupported position of the substrate.

  According to the present invention, gas is supplied to the pneumatic cylinder, and the substrate is selectively moved to a support position where the substrate is supported from below and a non-support position where the substrate is not supported, so that the substrate is attached to the panel via the connector. When the connected and assembled display panel is carried out to the next process, the substrate is supported from below by a support so that the board does not hang down, and the display panel can be easily carried out to the next process without any trouble. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view of a display panel assembly apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display panel assembly apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a side view of the support device of the display panel assembly apparatus in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the support apparatus of the display panel assembly apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in embodiment.

  First, the overall configuration of the display panel assembling apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, a panel positioning portion 2, a crimping portion 3, and a substrate positioning portion 4 are disposed on a base 1. On the side of the base 1, there is disposed a substrate supply unit 5 that stores and supplies the substrates 6 in a tray 5a. The transfer head 18 picks up the substrate 6 from the substrate supply unit 5 and transfers and mounts it on a predetermined position.

  In FIG. 1, the panel positioning unit 2 is configured by providing a panel mounting table 8 on a panel positioning table 7 formed by laminating a Y-axis table 7A, an X-axis table 7B, and a Zθ-axis table 7C. The panel 9 on the panel mounting table 8 can be positioned by freely moving in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions by the operation of the panel positioning table 7. Below the panel mounting table 8 is provided a support device 20 including a support body 34 for supporting the substrate 6 connected to the resin-made bendable connector 10 from below.

  In FIG. 2, a pair of left and right carry-in guide rails 51 and a carry-out guide rail 52 are provided on both sides of the panel positioning portion 2. On the guide rails 51 and 52, a panel carry-in part 53 and a panel carry-out part 54 are provided so as to be movable along the guide rails 51 and 52, respectively. In the present invention, the conveyance direction of the panel 9 by the guide rails 51 and 52 is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction in the horizontal plane is the Y direction.

In FIG. 1, a connector 10 is bonded to the edge of the panel 9 in advance. The panel 9 is transported toward the panel placement table 8 by the panel carry-in portion 53 and is transferred onto the panel placement table 8 by a transfer means (not shown). The display panel assembled by connecting the substrate 6 to the edge of the panel 9 via the connector 10 by the crimping part 3 is transferred to the panel carry-out part 54 by the transfer means (not shown) and carried to the next process. The

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the crimping portion 3 includes a portal frame 11 erected on the base 1, a cylinder 12 serving as a lifting drive unit provided on the frame 11, and a rod 12 a of the cylinder 12. It consists of a crimping tool 13 held up and down freely. A bracket 14 is erected between the panel positioning table 7 and the substrate positioning table 16 on the base 1, and a lower receiving member 15 facing the crimping tool 13 is provided on the bracket 14. Two cameras 22 as recognition means are provided on the panel mounting table 8 side of the lower receiving member 15, and a crimping state by a recognition mark or a crimping part 3 as a recognition part provided on the substrate 6 or the connector 10. Recognize etc.

  In FIG. 1, the substrate positioning unit 4 is configured by providing a substrate mounting table 17 on a substrate positioning table 16 formed by laminating a Y-axis table 16A, an X-axis table 16B, and a Zθ-axis table 16C. The substrate 6 picked up by the transfer head 18 from the tray 5 a is placed on the substrate placement table 17. Accordingly, the substrate 6 placed on the substrate placement table 17 can be positioned by freely moving in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions by the operation of the substrate positioning table 16. The edge part of the upper surface of the board | substrate 6 is the connection part 19 to which the anisotropic conductive tape was affixed previously.

  Next, the support device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a support device 20 is disposed below the side end of the panel mounting table 8. The support device 20 includes an upper support unit 30 and a lower gas supply unit 40. FIG. 3A shows a state where the support unit 30 and the gas supply unit 40 are separated, and FIG. 3B shows a state where both are joined.

  3A, the support unit 30 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 31 mounted in a horizontal posture on the lower surface of the panel mounting table 8 and a piston 33 built in a case 32 of the pneumatic cylinder 31. It consists of a support 34 having a key shape in cross section. Magnets 35 a and 35 b are provided on the upper surface of the inner wall of the case 32 at intervals. The piston 33 slides in the horizontal direction (arrow A) between the magnet 35a and the magnet 35b, and is magnetized and temporarily fixed to the magnet 35a or 35b.

  As the piston 33 slides in the direction of arrow A, the support 34 also moves in the same direction, and is supported by the magnet 35a shown in FIG. 3B and a support position (S1) shown in FIG. 3A. It moves between the unsupported position (S2) fixed by the magnet 35b. That is, the magnets 35a and 35b serve as fixing means for fixing the support 34 so that it can be fixed and released at the support position and / or the non-support position. A first port 36a and a second port 36b are opened in the lower surface of the case 32 with a gap therebetween.

  The gas supply unit 40 includes an elevating mechanism 41 and a gas supply mechanism 45. The elevating mechanism 41 includes a cylinder 42 and a bracket 44 attached to the tip of the rod 43. The gas supply mechanism 45 supplies and discharges gas (air) to and from the hollow pads 46a and 46b, the springs 47 as the elastic members provided below the hollow pads 46a and 46b, and the hollow pads 46a and 46b. The gas supply device 48 includes tubes 49 a and 49 b that connect the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b and the gas supply device 48.

The cylinder 42 is mounted in an upright posture on the upper surface of the base 50 attached to the Zθ-axis table 7C. On the upper surface of the bracket 44, a spring 47 and hollow pads 46a and 46b supported by the spring 47 are provided at positions corresponding to the ports 36a and 36b. The hollow pads 46 a and 46 b are bulleted upward by the spring force of the spring 47. The lifting mechanism 41 is moved in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions in accordance with the operation of the panel positioning table 7 and is held by the spring 47 on the upper surface of the bracket 44 by the forward and backward movement of the rod 43 in the vertical direction (arrow B). The hollow pads 46a and 46b can be raised and lowered. Thereby, the hollow pads 46a and 46b can be connected to the ports 36a and 36b of the pneumatic cylinder 31 so as to be able to contact and separate. That is, the hollow pads 46a and 46b are joint portions that are detachably connected to the ports 36a and 36b of the pneumatic cylinder 31. Further, the cylinder 42 is a contact / separation means for contacting / separating the hollow pads 46a, 46b with the ports 36a, 36b of the pneumatic cylinder 31.

  The gas supply device 48 includes a mechanism for supplying gas to any one of the tubes 49a and 49b and a mechanism for discharging gas from the other. Therefore, the gas supply device 48 can supply gas to one of the hollow pads 46a and 46b and exhaust from the other. That is, the gas supply device 48, the hollow pads 46a and 46b, the tubes 49a and 49b, and the like are gas supply units that supply and discharge gas to and from the ports 36a and 36b of the pneumatic cylinder 31.

  Next, the gas supply operation between the gas supply device 48 and the pneumatic cylinder 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the space on the side where the first port 36a is provided (the right side in FIG. 4A) is defined as the first chamber in the pneumatic cylinder 31 divided into two spaces by the piston 33. The space on the side where the second port 36b is provided (the left side in FIG. 4A) is the second chamber 37b.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the hollow pads 46a and 46b and the ports 36a and 36b provided on the lower surface of the pneumatic cylinder 31 are connected. The two are connected by raising the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b held by the spring 47 by the operation of the cylinder 42 and bringing them into contact with the lower surface of the pneumatic cylinder 31. At this time, the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b continue to rise for a while after the upper end portions of the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b abut against the lower surface of the pneumatic cylinder 31, so that the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b have the lower surface of the pneumatic cylinder 31 due to the elastic force of the spring 47. It is elastically pressed against. As a result, a tighter connection is possible, and gas leakage from the connection location during gas supply / discharge can be prevented.

  4A, the support 34 is in a state where the piston 33 of the pneumatic cylinder 31 is magnetically attached to the magnet 35a and temporarily fixed. What is indicated by a chain line in the drawing is the display panel 23, and the support 34 supports the substrate 6 from below at the support position S1.

  When the gas supply device 48 is operated to send gas to the tube 49a, the gas is sent from the first port 36a into the first chamber 37a through the hollow pad 46a (arrow C). When the pressure in the first chamber 37a exceeds a certain value, the force pushing the piston 33 becomes larger than the magnetic force of the magnet 35a, the magnetic adhesion is released, and the piston 33 moves in the direction of arrow D. This movement is continued until the piston 33 comes into contact with the magnet 35b in the second chamber 37b and is temporarily fixed. With this movement, the support 34 connected to the piston 33 also moves in the direction of arrow D. That is, the support 34 moves from the support position S1 shown in FIG. 4 (a) to the non-support position S2 shown in FIG. 4 (b). As the piston 33 moves, the gas in the second chamber 37b is discharged from the second port 36b (arrow E) and sent to the gas supply device 48 via the hollow pad 46b and the tube 49b.

By the operation of the gas supply device 48 described above, as shown in FIG. 4B, the piston 33 is temporarily fixed by the magnet 35b in the second chamber 37b, and the support 34 is in the unsupported position S2. In this state, when the gas supply device 48 is operated to send gas to the tube 49b (arrow F), the piston 33 moves in the direction of arrow G according to the same principle as described above, and the support 34 is moved accordingly. It moves from the unsupported position S2 to the supported position S1 in FIG. Further, the gas in the first chamber 37a is discharged from the second port 36a (arrow H).

  By repeating the gas supply operation between the gas supply device 48 and the pneumatic cylinder 31 described above, the support 34 can be selectively moved to the support position S1 and the non-support position S2. When it is not necessary to move the support 34, the cylinder 42 is operated to lower the hollow pads 46 a and 46 b so as to be detached from the ports 36 a and 36 b of the pneumatic cylinder 31 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the support device 20 is composed of the support unit 30 and the gas supply unit 40 that can be contacted with and separated from the support unit 30. ing. Therefore, since only the light and simple support unit 30 that does not include a drive source is provided on the panel mounting table 8 side, the panel mounting table 8 that moves and rotates at high speed is reduced in weight, and the operability is improved. Can be improved.

  Of course, the support 34 is not limited to the one in the present embodiment, and any support can be used as long as it can stably support and release the substrate 6 from below. In addition, the hollow pads 46a and 46b and the springs 47 that repel the ports 36a and 36b as examples of the joint have been described as examples. However, the gas supplied and discharged from the gas supply device 48 is supplied to the ports 36a and 36b without omission. It is not limited to this as long as it can be done. Further, the support unit 30 is not limited to the support 34 that moves linearly between the support position S1 and the non-support position S2 described above, and for example, a support body centered on a fulcrum provided on the display panel mounting table 8 side. May be rotated in the vertical direction and selectively moved to the support position and the non-support position.

  Next, a method for assembling the display panel 23 using the display panel assembling apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B show a series of operations in order. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the substrate positioning table 16 is operated to position the substrate 6 on the substrate mounting table 17 with respect to the pressure-bonding portion 3, and the lower surface of the connection portion 19 of the substrate 6 is the lower receiving member. 15 is brought into contact with the upper surface. Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the panel positioning table 7 is operated, the connector 10 of the panel 9 on the panel mounting table 8 is positioned with respect to the crimping portion 3, and the end of the connector 10 is connected to the connecting portion. 19 is aligned above. This alignment is performed by recognizing a recognition unit provided on the substrate 6 or the connector 10 by the camera 22.

  When the alignment is completed, as shown in FIG. 5C, the crimping tool 13 is lowered by the operation of the cylinder 12 (arrow a), and the end of the connector 10 is crimped to the substrate 6 via the connecting portion 19 and connected. Let Thereby, the assembly of the display panel 23 is completed. That is, the panel positioning table 7 and the substrate positioning table 16 are connected to the connector 10 and the substrate 6 by moving the panel mounting table 8 and the substrate mounting table 17 relative to the connection partner or the crimping portion 3. Positioning means for aligning the portion 19 is provided.

  Next, an operation for carrying out the display panel 23 will be described. The display panel 23 assembled by the above assembly process is carried out to the next process. As shown in FIG. 6A, the substrate positioning table 16 is operated to raise the substrate mounting table 17 (arrow b), and the panel positioning table 7 is operated in synchronization with this to move the panel mounting table 8. Raise (arrow c).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the support device 20 is operated to move the support 34 below the substrate 6 (arrow d). Thereby, the support body 34 moves to the support position S1 which supports the board | substrate 6 from the downward direction from the non-support position S2, as shown to Fig.4 (a), (b).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7A, the panel positioning table 7 is operated, and the panel positioning portion 2 is moved backward to the loading / unloading position by the guide rails 51 and 52 (arrow e. See also arrow e in FIG. 2). Since the substrate 6 moves as the panel positioning unit 2 moves backward, the support state by the substrate mounting table 17 shown in FIG. 6B is released, but the substrate 6 moves to the support position S1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the support 34 is supported from below. Since the support 34 is temporarily fixed to the support position S1 by the magnet 35a, even if the operation of the gas supply mechanism 49 is interrupted and the supply of gas to the pneumatic cylinder 31 is stopped, FIG. The support state shown in (a) is maintained. Then, the display panel 23 is transferred to the panel carry-out unit 54 shown in FIG. 2 and carried out to the next process.

  As described above, when the display panel 23 is carried out, the substrate 6 connected to the edge of the panel 9 via the connector 10 is supported from below by the support 34 provided on the panel mounting table 8. Does not hang down below the panel 9. Therefore, when the display panel 23 is transferred to the panel carry-out section 54, the display panel 23 can be easily carried out without causing any troubles such as the substrate that hangs down colliding with surrounding equipment.

  After carrying out the display panel 23 to the next process by the above operation, the support device 20 is operated as shown in FIG. 7B to move the support 34 to the non-support position S2 (arrow f).

  In the display panel assembly apparatus and display panel assembly method of the present invention, gas is supplied to the pneumatic cylinder, and the support is selectively moved to a support position where the substrate is supported from below and an unsupported position where the substrate is not supported. When the display panel assembled by connecting the board to the panel via the connector is taken out to the next process, the board is supported from below by the support so that the board does not hang down, and the display panel is Since it can be easily carried out to the next process without hindrance, it is useful in the field of assembling a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel by connecting a substrate to the edge of the panel via a connector.

The side view of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention The side view of the support apparatus of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the support apparatus of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing of operation | movement of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing of operation | movement of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing of operation | movement of the assembly apparatus of the display panel in one embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

2 Panel Positioning Section 3 Crimping Section 4 Board Positioning Section 6 Board 7 Panel Positioning Table 8 Panel Placement Table 9 Panel 10 Connector 12 Cylinder (Elevation Drive Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Crimping tool 16 Board | substrate positioning table 17 Board | substrate mounting table 19 Connection part 20 Support apparatus 23 Display panel 31 Pneumatic cylinder 34 Support body 35a, 35b Magnet 36a, 36b Port 42 Cylinder 46a, 46b Hollow pad 47 Spring (elastic member)
48 Gas supply device

Claims (4)

  A display panel assembling apparatus for assembling a display panel by connecting a bendable connector bonded in advance to an edge of the panel and a connecting portion formed on a substrate, a panel mounting table for mounting the panel, A substrate mounting table for mounting a substrate; positioning means for aligning the connector and the connecting portion by relatively moving the panel mounting table and the substrate mounting table; and the connector and the connection A crimping part that is crimped and connected to the connector by a crimping tool, and a support device that supports the board that is crimped and connected to the connector by the crimping tool from below, and the support device includes the panel mounting table. Pneumatic cylinder provided on the side, support position for supporting the substrate from below by supplying and discharging gas from the port of this pneumatic cylinder, and unsupported A substrate support that is selectively moved to a position; a joint part that is detachably connected to the port; contact / separation means that contacts and separates the joint part from the port; and gas to the port through the joint part. A display panel assembly apparatus, comprising: a gas supply unit that supplies the gas.   2. The display panel assembling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion includes a hollow pad contacting and separating from the port, and a resilient member for resiliently projecting the pad toward the port.   3. The display panel assembling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means for fixing the supporting body at the supporting position and / or the non-supporting position so as to be fixed and unreleasable. A display panel assembling method for assembling a display panel by connecting a bendable connector bonded in advance to an edge of the panel and a connecting portion formed on a substrate, and a panel mounting table on which the panel is mounted; A process of aligning the connector and the connecting portion by relatively moving a substrate mounting table on which a substrate is placed, and a display panel by crimping and connecting the connector and the connecting portion by a crimping portion A step of assembling, a step of connecting a joint portion connected to the gas supply portion to a port of a pneumatic cylinder of a support device for supporting the substrate from below, and a rod of the pneumatic cylinder by supplying and discharging gas from the port And supporting the substrate connected to the connector from below by moving the support coupled to the rod to the support position of the substrate, and the substrate supporting the support The step of carrying out the display panel on the panel mounting table to the next step while being supported from below by the above, and after carrying out, supplying and discharging gas from the port to reversely actuate the pneumatic cylinder to support the support Moving the body to an unsupported position on the substrate.

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