JP2015178407A - Plate transporting method, plate transporting device and producing device for plate comprising plate transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plate transporting method, a plate transporting device and a producing device for plate comprising the plate transporting device, transporting a flexible plate in a plane direction with which high-speed and clean transportation of the plate is realized, a special complicated mechanism is not required even for a variety of plates, no increment in establishment space is always required even for a bigger plate, and facility investment cost is reduced.SOLUTION: There is provided a plate transporting method with which a flexible plate W is transported in a plane direction. The plate W is transported in a state where the plate W is supported at a center part and both end parts in a width direction along a transporting direction. According to the position of the plate W on a transportation pathway, the supporting position at both end parts in the width direction of the plate W is changed in a vertical direction relatively to the supporting position at the center part in the width direction.

Description

  The present invention provides, for example, a plate-like material conveying method, a plate-like material conveying device, and a plate-like material conveying device for conveying the plate-like material in a production line for a sheet-like plate-shaped material comprising a thin glass substrate. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, for example, in the field of FPD (Flat Panel Display) typified by liquid crystal displays, the required specifications of FPD glass substrates have been increasingly increased in variety and size. The cost of capital investment increases and the product cost increases because a complicated mechanism is required for each glass substrate, and the installation space for large glass substrates is increased. Tended to be raised.
On the other hand, along with the recent high definition and low price of FPD, in the glass substrate production line, it has been required to stably transport the glass substrate in a high speed and clean state.

Under such circumstances, for example, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used as a technique for reducing the capital investment cost and reducing the product cost of the FPD while realizing the conveyance of the glass substrate at high speed and clean. Can be considered.
In Patent Document 1, an upper surface portion has an air ejection surface portion in which a plurality of air ejection ports are formed, an air table that floats a glass substrate in an inclined posture with air from the air ejection port, and the air ejection port And a conveying means for moving the glass substrate in the inclined posture toward the conveying direction in the moving region in contact with the end surface on the lower end side in the inclined direction of the glass plate in the inclined posture floated by the air. A technique related to a conveying apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2007-238224 A

In recent years, for the purpose of improving the productivity and reducing the weight of FPD products, the size and thickness of glass substrates for such applications have been increased.
However, in the transport apparatus according to Patent Document 1, since the glass substrate is transported while being inclined, when the large and thin glass substrate is transported, the glass substrate is bent into an unintended form, and the glass substrate can be transported stably. There was a risk of damage to the glass substrate.
Moreover, in the said conveying apparatus, since the glass substrate was hold | maintained in the state floated by the air table, it was difficult to ensure a highly accurate conveyance surface. Even if a highly accurate transport surface can be secured, it causes a cost increase.
Further, when the glass substrate is transported in a tilted posture, the glass substrate is thinned, and a buckling phenomenon occurs due to the weight of the glass substrate itself, which may cause a transport failure.
Furthermore, in the conveyance device of Patent Document 1, a complicated mechanism for coping with this kind of glass substrate that greatly exceeds the area of the air table is required.
For these reasons, it has been difficult to reduce capital investment costs while realizing high-speed and clean transfer of glass substrates by using the transfer device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described current problems, and a plate-like object conveying method, a plate-like object conveying device, and a plate-like object for conveying a flexible plate-like object in a plane direction. It is a plate-shaped product production apparatus equipped with a material transport device, realizing a high-speed and clean transport of a plate-shaped material, without requiring a complicated mechanism separately with the increase in the variety of plate-shaped materials, Further, it is not always necessary to increase the installation space with an increase in the size of the plate-like object, and the plate-like object transfer method, the plate-like object transfer device, and the plate-like object can reduce the capital investment cost. It aims at providing the production apparatus of a plate-shaped object provided with a thing conveyance apparatus.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, in the plate-like object conveying method of the present invention, a plate-like object conveying method for conveying a flexible plate-like object in the plane direction, wherein the plate-like object is at the center and both ends in the width direction. , While supporting along the transport direction, according to the position of the plate-shaped object on the transport path, support positions of both ends of the plate-shaped object in the width direction, support of the central part in the width direction It changes in the up-down direction relative to the position.

  On the other hand, in the plate-shaped object conveyance device of the present invention, it is a plate-shaped object conveyance device that conveys a flexible plate-shaped object in the plane direction, while supporting the central part in the width direction of the plate-shaped object. The first transport means for transporting the plate-shaped object in a predetermined transport direction and the second transport for transporting the plate-shaped object in the transport direction while supporting both end portions in the width direction of the plate-shaped object. And a position changing mechanism that can change the position of the second conveying means at least in the vertical direction relative to the position of the first conveying means.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus of the present invention, the second conveying means conveys the first end support conveying means for conveying while supporting one end portion in the width direction of the plate-shaped object; and A second end support transporting means for transporting while supporting the other end in the width direction, and the position changing mechanism is configured to change each of the position of the first end support transporting means and the position of the second end support transporting means. The first transfer means can be changed independently at least in the vertical direction.
According to such a configuration, for example, by changing the positions of both the first end supporting and conveying means and the second end supporting and conveying means downward with respect to the first conveying means, the conveying posture of the plate-like object Or a position of the first end support transport means and the second end support transport means upward and downward with respect to the first transport means. By changing each of them, the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be changed to a plane inclined posture, or the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be easily changed.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus of the present invention, the position changing mechanism is configured so that each of the first end supporting and conveying means and the second end supporting and conveying means is independent of the first conveying means. It is possible to turn.
According to such a configuration, the positions of the first end supporting and conveying means and the second end supporting and conveying means can be easily changed while always using the position of the first conveying means as a reference.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus of the present invention, the first conveying means is formed in an arc shape in a sectional view when viewed from the conveying direction of the plate-shaped object.
According to such a configuration, even when the end portion in the width direction of the plate-like object is bent downward by its own weight, a sufficient contact area with the plate-like object can be easily provided in the center portion in the width direction. It can be ensured, and the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be stabilized more firmly.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus of this invention, said 2nd conveyance means is provided with the standing surface part which can contact | abut with the end surface of the said width direction of the said plate-shaped object.
According to such a configuration, for example, even if the plate-like object in the middle of conveyance is subjected to unexpected external force and a shift in the width direction occurs, the end surface in the width direction of the plate-like object comes into contact with the standing surface portion. Thus, the deviation is restrained, and the plate-like object can be prevented from falling out of the conveying device.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus of the present invention, the second conveying means includes a groove part into which an end in the width direction of the plate-shaped object can be inserted.
According to such a configuration, for example, in a plate-like object that is conveyed in a curved chevron posture, even if the amount of bending due to its own weight at both ends in the width direction is small, the second conveying means causes the width direction to be It is possible to stabilize the conveying posture of the plate-like object by pushing it down while inserting both ends of the plate into the groove.

Moreover, in the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of the second conveying means are arranged along the conveying direction, and each position is configured to be independently changeable at least in the vertical direction. It is characterized by.
According to such a configuration, the position of the second conveying means is gradually changed greatly toward the conveying direction, so that the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be changed without stopping the conveying state of the plate-like object. It can be transformed into a predetermined shape.

  Furthermore, in the production apparatus of the plate-shaped object of this invention, the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 2-8, the processing apparatus of the said plate-shaped object, a washing | cleaning apparatus, and an inspection apparatus. And at least one of the above.

  According to the plate-like material conveying method, the plate-like material conveying device, and the plate-like material production apparatus including the plate-like material conveying device according to the present invention, the plate-like material is realized while realizing high-speed and clean conveyance of the plate-like material. With the increase in the number of products, complicated mechanisms are not required separately, and the installation space does not always need to be increased with the increase in the size of the plate-like material, thereby reducing capital investment costs. Can do.

The top view which showed the whole structure of the plate-shaped object conveying apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus, Comprising: (a) is the cross-sectional front view which looked at the state at the time of conveying a plate-shaped object with a plane horizontal attitude | position from the direction of arrow B of FIG. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional front view of the state of conveying a plate-like object in a curved chevron posture, as viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. In the plate-shaped object conveyance device that conveys a plate-shaped object in a curved chevron posture, it is a diagram showing the vicinity of the sub-transport conveyor on one side (right side in the conveyance direction), and the amount of bending of the plate-shaped object is compared The cross-sectional front view which showed the state in case of large. In the plate-shaped object conveyance device that conveys a plate-shaped object in a curved chevron posture, it is a diagram showing the vicinity of the sub-transport conveyor on one side (right side in the conveyance direction), and the amount of bending of the plate-shaped object is compared The cross-sectional front view which showed the state in case it is small. In the production line provided with a plate-shaped material conveyance apparatus, it is the figure which showed the state of the plate-shaped material in each process, Comprising: (a) is the top view, (b) is the side view.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described.

[Plate-like material transport method]
First, the plate-shaped object conveyance method embodied by this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The plate-like material conveyance method in the present embodiment is, for example, in the production line of the glass substrate for FPD, by changing the conveyance posture of the flexible plate-like material to a predetermined shape according to the request from each step, This is a method for conveying a plate-like object in a plane direction.

Here, as for the plate-like material, a thin glass substrate for liquid crystal having a thickness dimension of 0.2 mm or less, a tempered glass substrate, a plasma display, an organic EL display, an FED (Field Emission Display), or an SED. A glass substrate for FPD such as (Surface-Conduction Electron-emitter Display), or a glass substrate for electronic devices such as a photoelectric conversion panel or a flat illumination panel may be employed.
Moreover, about the material of a plate-shaped object, it is not limited to a glass material, For example, things other than glass materials, such as a metal, resin, or ceramics, may be sufficient.
Further, the plate-like object may be a sheet-like object or a long belt-like object wound in a roll shape.

  In the plate-like object transport method according to the present embodiment, the center and both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object are simultaneously supported along the conveyance direction to convey the plate-like object. According to the position of the plate-like object, the positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction can be changed in the vertical direction and the width direction, respectively, relative to the position of the support portion at the center portion in the width direction. The main feature is to do.

  And, for example, on the lower surface of the plate-like object, the vertical positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction are set to the same level as the support portions at the center portion in the width direction, and at the support portions at both ends in the width direction. By aligning the position in the width direction with the end in the width direction of the plate-like object, the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be set to a horizontal horizontal posture.

  Further, for example, on the lower surface of the plate-like object, the vertical positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction are positioned relatively lower than the support portions at the center portion in the width direction, and the width direction By aligning the widthwise positions of the support parts at both ends with the edges in the widthwise direction of the plate-like material, the plate-like material is conveyed in a curved chevron posture (a parabolic shape that is convex upward when viewed from the conveyance direction). It can be.

  Further, for example, on the lower surface of the plate-like object, the vertical position of the support portion at one end portion in the width direction is positioned relatively higher than the support portion at the center portion in the width direction. The vertical position of the support portion at the other end is positioned relatively lower than the support portion at the center in the width direction, and the position in the width direction at the support portions at both ends in the width direction is plate-shaped. By combining with the end of the object in the width direction, the conveying posture of the plate-like object can be set to a plane inclined posture.

  The plate-like material conveyance posture formed by the plate-like material conveyance method according to the present embodiment is not limited to these plane horizontal posture, curved chevron posture, plane inclination posture, etc. A curved basin-type posture (below as viewed from the conveyance direction), formed by positioning the vertical positions of the support portions at both ends in the direction relative to the support portion at the center portion in the width direction. Various conveying postures such as a convex parabolic shape) can be formed.

  Such a plate-like material conveying method includes, for example, a main conveying conveyor 10 that is a first conveying means that supports and pulls (conveys) the central portion in the width direction on the lower surface of the plate-like material, and the width direction. Sub-transport conveyors 20 as second transport means for supporting and pulling (transporting) both ends of each of the sub-transport conveyors 20 relative to the position of the main transport conveyor 10, It is embodied by a plate-like object transport device 1 (see FIG. 1), which will be described later, which can be changed in the vertical direction and the width direction.

  By constructing such a production line equipped with the plate-like material conveyance device 1 in the present embodiment, the plate-like material is deformed into a predetermined shape according to the request from each step, and the plate-like material Can be transported in the plane direction.

  For example, the conveying posture of the plate-like object in the horizontal horizontal posture can meet the requirements from the scribe process and the end face machining process that require dimensional accuracy after processing and high straightness.

Further, the conveying posture of the plate-like object by the curved chevron posture can meet the demands between the processes that require space saving of the installation place, reduction of equipment cost, clean conveyance and the like.
Specifically, the dimension in the width direction is shortened in the space necessary for transporting the plate-like object, and the space for installing the transport device can be saved.
Also, in the transport posture where the state of the plate-like object needs to be maintained in a flat state, such as a flat horizontal posture and a flat tilt posture, a high angle accuracy is required for the transport surface. In this case, it is possible not only to ensure a high degree of accuracy with respect to the conveyance surface, but also to cause a problem of meandering in the conveyance direction, etc. It is possible to realize conveyance of the object.
Also, it is possible to limit the thing that contacts the plate-like object to the main conveyance conveyor that supports the central part in the width direction and the sub-conveyance conveyor that supports both ends in the width direction. can do.

Furthermore, the conveying posture of the plate-like object by the plane inclined posture can meet the requirements from the inspection process and the packing process that require high-precision alignment of the plate-like object, space saving of the installation space, clean conveyance, etc. .
Specifically, high-precision alignment of plate-like objects is achieved by pressing the plate-like object against the receiving surface of the conveyor, for example, with its own weight, using one end in the width direction (lower end) as a reference. can do.
In addition, the dimension in the width direction is shortened in the space necessary for transporting the plate-like object, and the space for installing the transport device can be saved.
In addition, for example, water droplets or foreign matters adhering to the surface of the plate-like surface will drop along the surface, and a clean conveyance of the plate-like material can be realized.

As described above, in the plate-like object conveying method and the plate-like object conveying device in the present embodiment, the positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object are the positions of the support portions at the center portion in the width direction. On the other hand, since the configuration can be changed in the vertical direction and the width direction, it is possible to deal with various types of plate-like objects without requiring a complicated mechanism.
In addition, by setting the conveying posture of the plate-like object to be a curved chevron posture or a plane inclined posture, it is possible to suppress an increase in installation space accompanying an increase in the size of the plate-like object.
Further, by setting the conveying posture of the plate-like object to be a horizontal horizontal posture, it is possible to ensure a highly accurate conveying surface of the plate-like object.
Furthermore, by setting the conveying posture of the plate-like object to be a plane inclined posture, it is possible to realize a clean conveyance of the plate-like object.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the capital investment cost. For example, it is possible to reduce the product cost of an FPD including a plate-like object made of an FPD glass substrate.

[Plate-like material transport device 1]
Next, the structure of the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus 1 is demonstrated using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG.
In the following description, for convenience, the vertical direction in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 is described as the vertical direction of the plate-like object transport device 1.
In FIGS. 1 and 5, the direction of arrow A is defined as the conveying direction of the plate-like object W.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plate-like object conveying apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is an apparatus for conveying a thin sheet-like plate-like object W in a plane direction (direction of arrow A).
As will be described later, the conveying posture of the plate-like object W by the plate-like object conveying device 1 is not limited to the planar horizontal posture (see FIG. 2A). It can be transformed into various transport postures such as a plane inclined posture (see FIG. 2B) and a plane inclined posture (see FIG. 2C).

The plate-like object conveying apparatus 1 is mainly composed of a plurality of main conveying conveyors 10..., Sub conveying conveyors 20.
The main conveyor 10 pulls the plate-like object W in the conveyance direction while supporting the central portion in the width direction (perpendicular to the conveyance direction (direction of arrow A)) on the lower surface of the plate-like object W ( It is provided as a first transport means for transporting).

The main conveyor 10 includes a driving pulley 11, a driven pulley 12, a first conveyor belt 13, and the like.
The driving pulley 11 and the driven pulley 12 are pivotally supported so as to face each other in the conveying direction while the axial direction is the horizontal direction. An endless first conveyor belt 13 is wound between the driving pulley 11 and the driven pulley 12.

Then, the drive pulley 11 is driven to rotate about the axis by a drive device (not shown) (for example, a known motor roller), so that the first conveyor belt 13 is driven by the drive pulley 11 and the driven pulley 12. Rotated in between.
At this time, the rotation direction of the first conveyor belt 13 is normally set to a direction in which the upper surface 13a (upper region of the outer peripheral surface) of the first conveyor belt 13 moves in the transport direction.

The plurality of main transport conveyors 10, 10... Having such a configuration are arranged in a straight line along the transport direction.
And the first conveyor belts 13, 13 ... of these main conveyors 10, 10 ... are driven in conjunction with each other, so that the plate-like object W is located at the center in the width direction of the lower surface. While being pulled, it is transported in the transport direction.

Next, the sub transport conveyor 20 will be described.
The sub-transport conveyor 20 is provided as second transport means for pulling (transporting) the plate-like object W in the transport direction while supporting both ends in the width direction on the lower surface of the plate-like object W. .

The sub-transport conveyor 20 includes a drive pulley 21, a driven pulley 22, a second conveyor belt 23, a drive box 24, and the like.
The driving pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22 are arranged so that the axial directions thereof are parallel to each other, and are pivotally supported to face each other in the transport direction. An endless second conveyor belt 23 is wound between the driving pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22.

On the other hand, a drive box 24 is disposed on one side in the width direction of the drive pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22 (for example, in the present embodiment, on the main transport conveyor 10 side).
A drive mechanism (not shown) is housed inside the drive box 24, and the drive mechanism is coupled to at least the drive pulley 21 so that a drive force can be transmitted.

The drive pulley 21 is rotated about the axis by the drive mechanism (not shown). As a result, the second conveyor belt 23 is rotated between the drive pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22.
At this time, the rotation direction of the second conveyor belt 23 is normally set to a direction in which the upper surface 23a (the upper region of the outer peripheral surface) of the second conveyor belt 23 moves in the transport direction.

The plurality of sub-transport conveyors 20, 20... Configured as described above are arranged in a straight line along the transport direction on both sides in the width direction of the plurality of main transport conveyors 10. .
At this time, for example, in the present embodiment, the pair of sub-transport conveyors 20 and 20 adjacent to each other with the main transport conveyors 10 interposed therebetween are disposed to face each other in the width direction.
In addition, at least the pair of sub-conveyors 20 and 20 are arranged relative to the main conveyor 10 and the inclination of the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of the second conveyor belts 23 and 23 by an angle changing mechanism 30 described later. The angles are connected to each other so as to be arbitrarily changeable.
In other words, the pair of sub-transport conveyors (second transport means) 20 and 20 are, for example, the right-side sub-transport conveyor (first transport) that supports the right end portion (one end) in the width direction of the plate-like object W. End support transport means) 20 and a left sub-transport conveyor (second end support transport means) 20 that transports while supporting the left end portion (the other end portion) in the width direction of the plate-like object W, which will be described later. The angle change mechanism section (position change mechanism) 30 is configured to change the position of the right sub-transport conveyor (first end support transport means) 20 and the position of the left sub-transport conveyor (second end support transport means) 20 respectively. The main transfer conveyor (first transfer means) 10 can be changed independently at least in the vertical direction.

  Then, the second conveyor belts 23, 23,... Of the sub-conveying conveyors 20, 20,... Are rotated in conjunction with each other, so that the plate-like object W is attached to both ends in the width direction of the lower surface. While being pulled, it is transported in the transport direction.

Next, the angle changing mechanism unit 30 will be described.
The angle changing mechanism unit 30 is provided as a position changing mechanism that can change the arrangement position of the sub-transport conveyor 20 relative to the main transport conveyor 10 at least in the vertical direction (a direction orthogonal to the width direction when viewed from the front). .
Note that the angle changing mechanism 30 in the present embodiment can arbitrarily change the arrangement position of the sub-transport conveyor 20 relative to the main transport conveyor 10 in the width direction, and can also change the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23. The inclination angle can be arbitrarily changed.

Here, as described above, the plurality of sub-transport conveyors 20, 20... Are subdivided along the transport direction and arranged in a straight line. The support parts are each subdivided along the transport direction.
According to such a configuration, in the sub-conveying conveyor 20 arranged at a predetermined position, even after the plate-like object W is changed and carried out, the posture is quickly changed to accept the subsequent plate-like object W. Since it is possible to return to the previous state, it is economical without providing a separate complicated mechanism.

Then, the arrangement position of the sub transport conveyor 20 relative to the main transport conveyor 10 is gradually changed greatly along the transport direction by the angle changing mechanism unit 30. For example, when the conveying posture of the plate-like object W is changed from a horizontal horizontal posture to a curved chevron posture convex upward, the vertical position of each sub-conveying conveyor 20 with respect to the main conveying conveyor 10 is the same as the main conveying conveyor 10. From the height position, it gradually changes greatly downward as it goes downstream in the transport direction.
Thereby, in this embodiment, the conveyance attitude | position of the plate-shaped object W can be changed into a defined shape, without stopping the conveyance state of the plate-shaped object W.

  The angle changing mechanism unit 30 includes, for example, a main shaft 31 that extends coaxially with the main transport conveyor 10 and a plurality of (for example, four in the present embodiment) connections that are arranged orthogonal to the main shaft 31. It is constituted by shafts 32, 32.

Each connecting shaft 32 is slidably inserted into the drive box 24 of each sub-conveyor 20 at one end so as to be slidable, and is rotatably connected to the main shaft 31 at the other end.
As a result, in the pair of sub-transport conveyors (second transport means) 20 and 20 located on the left and right sides in the width direction of the plate-like object W, the right sub-transport conveyor (first end support transport means) 20 and the left side Each of the sub-transport conveyors (second end support transport means) 20 is configured to be independently rotatable around the main transport conveyor (first transport means) 10.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the arrangement positions of the sub-transport conveyors 20 relative to the main transport conveyor 10 by sliding along the connecting shaft 32 rotated around the main shaft 31. Is arbitrarily changed in the vertical direction and the width direction, and the inclination angle of the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23 is also arbitrarily changed.

  In addition, the structure of the angle change mechanism part 30 in this embodiment is an example, Comprising: It is not limited to this, The arrangement position of each sub conveyance conveyor 20 with respect to the main conveyance conveyor 10, and a 2nd conveyor Any configuration may be used as long as the inclination angle of the upper surface 23a of the belt 23 can be arbitrarily changed.

  In the plate-shaped object transport apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the arrangement position and the inclination angle of the sub-transport conveyor 20 relative to the main transport conveyor 10 are arbitrarily changed by the angle changing mechanism unit 30. The conveying posture of the plate-like object W is deformed to a horizontal horizontal posture, a curved chevron posture, a flat inclined posture, or the like.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, in the case where the conveying posture of the plate-like object W is supported by a horizontal horizontal posture, the angle changing mechanism unit 30 makes the relative relative to the main conveying conveyor 10. As the arrangement position of each of the sub-conveyors 20, the vertical position is set at a position where the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23 is substantially the same as the upper surface 13a of the first conveyor belt 13, and the second conveyor belt 23 A position in the width direction is set at a position where an upright surface portion 23b, which will be described later, of the upper surface 23a is close to an end portion in the width direction of the plate W.
Accordingly, the angle changing mechanism 30 forms an inclination angle of about 0 ° with respect to the virtual horizontal plane as the inclination angle of the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23 of the sub-conveyor 20 (ie, horizontal Set to be in a state.
Thereby, the conveyance surface S which touches simultaneously the upper surface 13a of the 1st conveyor belt 13, and the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of a pair of 2nd conveyor belts 23 and 23 located in the both sides of the width direction of the 1st conveyor belt 13. Is in a horizontal state, the conveying posture of the plate-like object W by the plate-like object conveying device 1 is a flat horizontal posture.

Note that, in the plate-like object W in the horizontal horizontal posture, when slight bending occurs due to its own weight at the end in the width direction, the inclination angle of the upper surface 23a of each second conveyor belt 23 is set in advance in accordance with the bending curve. It is good also as arranging.
Further, when the plate-like object W has a large width-wise dimension and causes bending due to its own weight between the first conveyor belt 13 and the second conveyor belt 23, for example, a bending prevention means comprising a support belt, a support roller, or the like. 40 may be provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, for example, when the conveying posture of the plate-like object W is supported by the curved chevron posture, each angle relative to the main conveyor 10 is changed by the angle changing mechanism 30. As an arrangement position of the conveyor 20, a vertical position is set at a position where the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23 is below the upper surface 13a of the first conveyor belt 13, and the standing surface portion 23b of the second conveyor belt 23 is set. Sets the position in the width direction at a position close to the end of the plate-like object W in the width direction.
Accordingly, the angle changing mechanism 30 substantially conforms to the bending curve at the end in the width direction of the plate-like object W as the inclination angle of the upper surface 23a of the second conveyor belt 23 of the sub-conveyor 20. Set to be.
Thereby, the conveyance surface S which touches simultaneously the upper surface 13a of the 1st conveyor belt 13, and the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of a pair of 2nd conveyor belts 23 and 23 located in the both sides of the width direction of the 1st conveyor belt 13. However, since it has a parabolic shape that is convex upward when viewed from the conveyance direction, the conveyance posture of the plate-like object W by the plate-like object conveyance device 1 is a curved chevron posture.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2C, for example, when the conveyance posture of the plate-like object W is supported by a plane inclined posture, the angle changing mechanism unit 30 makes a pair of relative to the main conveyance conveyor 10. As the arrangement positions of the sub-conveying conveyors 20 and 20, the upper and lower surfaces 23a and 23a of the one and the other second conveyor belts 23 and 23 are positioned above and below the upper surface 13a of the first conveyor belt 13, respectively. In addition, the position in the width direction is set at a position where the upright surface portions 23b and 23b of the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of the pair of second conveyor belts 23 and 23 are close to the end portions in the width direction of the plate-like object W.
Accordingly, the angle changing mechanism 30 sets the inclination angles of the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of the second conveyor belts 23 and 23 of the pair of sub-transport conveyors 20 and 20 so as to form the same inclination angle. To do.
Thereby, the conveyance surface S which touches simultaneously the upper surface 13a of the 1st conveyor belt 13, and the upper surfaces 23a and 23a of a pair of 2nd conveyor belts 23 and 23 located in the both sides of the width direction of the 1st conveyor belt 13. However, the plate-like object W is conveyed by the plate-like object conveyance device 1 because the plate-like object is inclined to one side when viewed from the conveyance direction (in this embodiment, the left side in the conveyance direction is inclined upward). The posture is a plane inclined posture.

  Note that, similarly to the case where the conveying posture of the plate-like object W is set to the flat horizontal posture as described above, the dimension in the width direction of the plate-like object W is wide, and the gap between the first conveyor belt 13 and the second conveyor belt 23 is large. When bending due to its own weight occurs, for example, a bending preventing means 40 made of a support belt, a support roller, or the like may be provided.

By the way, when the conveyance posture of the plate-like object W becomes a curved surface-mountain posture or a plane-inclined posture, or when both end portions in the width direction of the plate-like object W are largely bent downward by its own weight, the width of the plate-like object W The central part of the direction is inclined to one side in the curved or width direction.
Here, the outer peripheral surface (upper surface 13 a) of the first conveyor belt 13, that is, the contact surface when supporting the central portion in the width direction of the plate-like object W, is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the conveyance direction of the plate-like object W. Since it is formed in an arc shape, a sufficient contact area with the plate-like object W can be easily secured even if the central portion in the width direction is curved or inclined to one side in the width direction. Thus, the conveying posture of the plate-like object W can be stabilized more firmly.

In addition, in the plate-like object W in which the bending due to its own weight occurs on both sides in the width direction, the amount of bending changes due to the influence of the shaking in the middle of the conveyance, or the width in the width direction changes. There is a possibility that the internal stress generated at both ends changes, or an external force is applied in the middle of conveyance and defects such as cracks and chips occur at both ends.
In this regard, in the plate-like object transporting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, such a problem is caused by supporting both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W from below by the pair of second conveyor belts 23 and 23. It is the structure which aims at prevention.

When the plate-like object W is conveyed by the curved chevron posture, when the amount of deflection caused by its own weight generated on both sides in the width direction of the plate-like object W is large, the positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction are determined by its own weight. The both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W are lifted upward by being slightly positioned relative to the positions of the both ends in the width direction of the plate-like article W when bent downward. I am going to support it.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, in a plate-like object W (first plate-like object Wa drawn by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) that has a mountain shape due to bending due to its own weight, The bending angle (angle formed by the lower surface of the plate-like object W when viewed from the conveyance direction) θx1 becomes a larger bending angle θy1 (θx1 <θy1), and both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W are sub The conveyor belts 20 and 20 are lifted slightly upward by the second conveyor belts 23 and 23.
Thereby, the conveyance attitude | position of the plate-shaped object W supported by the 1st conveyor belt 13 and the 2nd conveyor belt 23 can be stabilized more firmly, and prevention of the shaking of the plate-shaped object W in the middle of conveyance is achieved. It is possible to prevent the amount of deflection from changing, the internal stress generated at both ends in the width direction from changing, or the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips due to external force applied during conveyance. .

Here, the outer peripheral surface (upper surface 23a) of the second conveyor belt 23 is formed in an L shape in a sectional view. That is, the standing surface portion 23b is formed along the outer end portion of the second conveyor belt 23 (the end portion on the side opposite to the main conveyor 10 side in the width direction of the second conveyor belt 23).
As described above, the upper surface 23a (the contact surface of the plate-like object W) of the second conveyor belt 23 that supports both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W is standing up so as to be in contact with the end surfaces of the both ends. A surface portion 23b is formed.
Thereby, for example, even if the plate-like object W is displaced in the width direction due to an unexpected external force, the plate-like object W can be prevented from falling due to being brought into contact with the rising surface portion 23b.

On the other hand, when the plate-like object W is conveyed by the curved chevron posture, the second conveyor belt 23 provided in each sub-conveyor conveyor 20 is small when the amount of bending caused by its own weight is small on both sides in the width direction of the plate-like object W. Is replaced by the third conveyor belt 25, and the positions of the support portions at both ends in the width direction are bent downward by their own weight with respect to the positions at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W. The both ends of the plate-like object W in the width direction are supported so as to be pressed downward relative to each other.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, in a plate-like object W (second plate-like object Wb drawn by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) that has a mountain shape due to deflection due to its own weight, The bending angle (angle formed by the lower surface of the plate-like object W when viewed from the conveying direction) θx2 becomes a smaller bending angle θy2 (θx2> θy2), so that both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object W are sub The conveyor belts 20 and 20 are pushed down slightly by the third conveyor belts 25 and 25.
Thereby, the conveyance attitude | position of the plate-shaped object W supported by the 1st conveyor belt 13 and the 3rd conveyor belt 25 can be stabilized more firmly, and the prevention of the shaking of the plate-shaped object W in the middle of conveyance is achieved. It is possible to prevent the amount of deflection from changing, the internal stress generated at both ends in the width direction from changing, or the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips due to external force applied during conveyance. .

  Here, the outer peripheral surface of the third conveyor belt 25 is formed in a U shape in a sectional view, and the third conveyor belt 25 is disposed so that the groove portion 25b opens toward the main transport conveyor 10 side.

The third conveyor belt 25 is inserted through the groove 25b so as to sandwich the end portion in the width direction of the plate-like object W, and the angle change mechanism unit 30 changes the arrangement position of the sub-transport conveyor 20 Along with this, the upper surface of the end portion in the width direction of the plate-like object W is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the groove 25b and pushed downward. In addition, the groove part 25b having a U-shaped cross-sectional view may be partially (intermittently) configured along the outer peripheral surface of the third conveyor belt 25.
Thereby, as described above, while the support state of the plate-like object W can be more firmly stabilized, for example, even if the plate-like object W is displaced in the width direction due to an unexpected external force, It can contact | abut to the inner part of the groove part 25b, and can prevent the plate-shaped object W falling.
When the plate-like object W is carried into and out of the plate-like object conveyance device 1, the third conveyor belt 25 is retracted and the plate-like object W is conveyed only by the first conveyor belt 13.

  In addition, on the inner peripheral surface of the groove portion 25b of the third conveyor belt 25, for example, the upper surface 25c facing the lower surface 25a is gradually inclined toward the side away from the lower surface 25a toward the main transport conveyor 10 side. Thereby, the insertion / removal operation | work of the edge part of the width direction of the plate-shaped object W to the groove part 25b can be performed smoothly.

Further, the upper surface 25c may be configured separately from the lower surface 25a, and the U shape may be configured to open in the conveying direction of the plate-like object W at the end of the third conveyor belt 25.
According to such a configuration, the plate-like object W can be carried into and out of the plate-like object conveying device 1 without retracting the third conveyor belt 25.

In the above embodiment, the case where the end of the plate-like object W is gently inserted into the U-shaped part of the outer peripheral surface of the third conveyor belt 25 is conveyed, but the end of the plate-like object W is illustrated. It is good also as a structure clamped by several rollers or a conveyor belt.
Moreover, it is good also as a structure which makes a roller and a conveyor belt contact | abut only to the edge part of the said plate-shaped object W from upper direction.

  As an example of the production apparatus for the plate-like object W using the plate-like object conveyance device 1 in the present embodiment as described above, for example, a production apparatus 100 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is constructed. can do.

  That is, the production apparatus 100 is, for example, arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 5), the scribe process 101, the first transport posture deformation process 102, the second transport. It is comprised by the attitude | position deformation | transformation process 103 and the end surface process 104.

The scribing step 101 is a step for cutting the plate-like object W into a predetermined outer dimension.
In the scribing step 101, scribing by a diamond cutter device 101A or the like, laser scribing, or the like is performed on the plate-like object W positioned and fixed at a predetermined location while ensuring flatness accuracy.

The first transport posture deformation step 102 is a step for deforming the transport posture of the plate-like object W that is provided immediately after the scribe step 101 and is unloaded from the scribe step 101.
In the first transport posture deformation step 102, a dedicated shape deforming device 102A is provided, and the transport posture of the plate-like object W is deformed by the shape deforming device 102A from a plane horizontal posture to a curved chevron posture.

The second transport posture deformation step 103 is a step for deforming the transport posture of the plate-like object W that is provided immediately before the end face processing step 104 and transported from the first transport posture deformation step 102.
Here, between the 1st conveyance attitude | position deformation | transformation process 102 and the 2nd conveyance attitude | position deformation | transformation process 103, the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus 1 which embodies the plate-shaped object conveyance method of this embodiment is provided, and plate-shaped object W is conveyed by the plate-shaped object conveyance apparatus 1 in a curved surface chevron posture.
In the second transport posture deformation step 103, a dedicated shape deforming device 103A is provided, and the transport posture of the plate-like object W is deformed again from the curved chevron posture to the flat horizontal posture by the shape deforming device 103A. .

The end face processing step 104 is a step for finishing the side end portion of the plate-like object W.
In the end face processing step 104, the plate-like object W carried in from the second transport posture deformation step 103 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the processing surface plate (not shown) while ensuring flatness accuracy. End face processing is performed by the apparatus 104A or the like.

As described above, the plate-like object conveying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can be optimally used as a means for conveying the plate-like object W between the scribing step 101 and the end face processing step 104.
Then, the optimum plate-like article W is produced by the plate-like article conveying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and at least one of the processing apparatus used in the scribing process 101 and the end face processing process 104, a cleaning apparatus (not shown), and an inspection apparatus. A device can be constructed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate-shaped material conveyance apparatus 10 Main conveyance conveyor (1st conveyance means)
13a upper surface 20 sub-conveyor (second conveying means) (first end supporting conveying means) (second end supporting conveying means)
23a Upper surface 23b Standing surface portion 25b Groove portion 30 Angle changing mechanism (position changing mechanism)
100 production equipment.
W Plate

Claims (9)

A plate-like material conveying method for conveying a plate-like material having flexibility in a plane direction,
In the central part and both ends of the width direction, the plate-like object is conveyed while being supported along the conveying direction,
In accordance with the position of the plate-like object on the transport path, the support positions at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object are changed in the vertical direction relative to the support position of the center part in the width direction. ,
A plate-like object conveying method characterized by the above. A plate-like material conveying device for conveying a plate-like material having flexibility in a plane direction,
A first conveying means for conveying the plate-like object in a predetermined conveying direction while supporting a central portion in the width direction of the plate-like object;
A second conveying means for conveying the plate-like object in the conveying direction while supporting both ends in the width direction of the plate-like object;
A position changing mechanism capable of changing the position of the second conveying means at least in the vertical direction relative to the position of the first conveying means;
Comprising
A plate-like object transporting device. The second conveying means is
A first end supporting and conveying means for conveying while supporting one end of the plate-like material in the width direction;
A second end support transporting means for transporting while supporting the other end of the plate-like material in the width direction;
With
The position changing mechanism can change the position of the first end supporting and conveying means and the position of the second end supporting and conveying means independently of at least the vertical direction with respect to the first conveying means.
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to claim 2, wherein The position changing mechanism is
Each of the first end supporting and conveying means and the second end supporting and conveying means can be independently rotated around the first conveying means.
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized by things. The first conveying means is
The plate-like object is formed in an arc shape in a cross-sectional view when viewed from the transport direction.
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein The second conveying means is
An upright surface portion capable of coming into contact with the end surface in the width direction of the plate-like object;
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein The second conveying means is
A groove portion into which an end portion in the width direction of the plate-like object can be inserted;
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein The second conveying means is
A plurality are arranged along the transport direction,
Each position is configured to be independently changeable at least vertically.
The plate-shaped article conveyance device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein The plate-like object conveying device according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
At least one of the plate-like material processing device, the cleaning device, and the inspection device,
Comprising
An apparatus for producing a plate-like product.

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