JP2558563Y2 - Substrate cassette - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a substrate cassette for separating and supporting glass substrates and the like used in a liquid crystal display device for displaying images so as not to contact each other.

[0002]

[Technical background of the invention] Generally, glass substrates for liquid crystal displays,
In transporting various substrates such as ceramic substrates, a substrate cassette in which a proper space is formed between substrates in a housed state in order to prevent the substrates from contacting each other is widely used.

Heretofore, this type of substrate cassette has been provided with a plurality of shelves at a predetermined pitch at opposing positions on both side walls of a box-shaped frame having an integral structure. It is configured such that a peripheral portion of a substrate which is inserted substantially manually and automatically by a horizontal operation is placed and held on the shelf, and a plurality of substrates are accommodated in a substrate cassette in a state of being separated from each other (for example, JP-A-63-27713
No. 6, JP-A-64-18743, JP-A-2-
No. 295150).

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a substrate cassette for accommodating a large-sized glass substrate for a liquid crystal display or the like is transported in an empty state, that is, without accommodating the substrate, the cassette is considerably large. Occupying a small space, making it difficult to transport an empty cassette.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is to make the transfer of an empty cassette relatively easy by minimizing the space occupied by the empty cassette when transferring the substrate cassette in an empty state. The purpose is to provide something that can be done.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a substrate cassette according to the present invention comprises a pair of frame members having a multi-stage shelf on an inner surface thereof for holding a peripheral portion of a substrate, facing each other. The upper and lower ends of both frames are connected to each other by a telescopic mechanism which can be extended and contracted in the horizontal direction.

According to the present invention constructed as described above, the substrate is held on the shelf provided on the inner surface of the frame while the expansion and contraction mechanism is extended and the frame is separated from each other. In the empty state, the expansion and contraction mechanism is contracted to bring the frames close to each other, thereby minimizing the space occupied by the cassette in the empty state, thereby facilitating the transportation. .

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment. In this embodiment, a substrate cassette 1 is constituted by using a pair of foldable plates provided with a flexible hinge as an extension mechanism. Things.

That is, the substrate cassette 1 is provided with a pair of plate-shaped frames 2 made of metal or plastic, etc., which are arranged so as to face each other. In FIG. 1, side plates 3 extending in the vertical direction are attached in four rows, and multi-stage shelves 4 are provided at a constant pitch on opposing surfaces of the side plates 3.

The shelf 4 is made of, for example, resin, and is used for inserting a peripheral portion of the substrate into each groove 4a and holding the substrate when the substrate (not shown) is accommodated in the substrate cassette 1. The substrate is accommodated in the substrate cassette 1 through the opening 1a in a horizontal state.

The pair of frame members 1 are connected to each other at their upper and lower ends by a telescopic mechanism 5 which extends in parallel in three rows in a horizontal direction and is capable of coming and going.

Each of the expansion and contraction mechanisms 5 includes a pair of U-shaped plate members 6, a bendable hinge 7 a for connecting the pair of plate members 6 in series at the center thereof, and the respective plate members 6. And a pair of hinges 7b located on the left and right, which are attached to the ends of the frame 1, and are connected to the respective frame bodies 1 via the hinges 7b located on the left and right.

That is, in each of the expansion and contraction mechanisms 5 connecting the upper ends of the frame 1, the hinge 7a located at the center is bent upward, and the hinges 7b located at the left and right are bent downward,
The plate body 6 is configured to be able to be folded downward, that is, in the direction in which the central portion moves downward. On the other hand, in each of the telescopic mechanisms 5 connecting the lower end portions of the frame body 1, the hinge located at the central portion is provided. 7a is bent downward and hinges 7b located on the left and right
Are bent upward so that the plate body 6 can be folded upward, that is, in the direction in which the central portion moves upward.

As a result, when the substrates are accommodated in the substrate cassette 1, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the expansion and contraction mechanisms 5 is extended to separate the pair of frames 1 from each other. The substrate is inserted into the cassette 1 from the opening 1 a and held and accommodated by the shelf 4 provided on the inner surface of the frame 1.

When the substrate cassette 1 is emptied, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the telescopic mechanism 5 is contracted, that is, the plate of each telescopic mechanism 5 that connects the upper end of the frame 1 is connected. Each telescopic mechanism 5 connecting the lower end of the frame 1 with the body 6 downward
Each of the plate members 6 is folded upward to bring the frame members 1 close to each other, whereby the space occupied by the substrate cassette 1 in this empty state can be reduced as much as possible to facilitate the transportation. I have.

In order to prevent the extension mechanism 5 from contracting in the above-mentioned extended state, as shown in FIG.
It is desirable to mount the lid 8 on the opposite side of the opening 1a of the substrate cassette 1.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, in which a substrate cassette 1 'is constructed using a link mechanism as a telescopic mechanism. That is, the frame 1
A connecting plate 9 having a pair of long holes 9a having a length substantially the same as the depth of the connecting plate and extending from each end to the center along the length direction. And a pair of four swing links 11 of the same length, one end of which is rotatably connected to each other via a pin 10 disposed in the frame, and a frame 5 '. By connecting the upper end and the lower end of the body 1 respectively, that is, by rotatably connecting the other end of the swing link 11 to the frame 1 via the pin 12, the substrate cassette 1 'is constructed. It was done.

In the case of this embodiment, each of the rocking links 11 is horizontally rocked while the pins 10 rotatably connecting the rocking links 11 are slid in the direction approaching each other along the elongated holes 9a. By doing so, the expansion and contraction mechanism 5 ′ can be expanded and contracted to bring the frame 1 into and out of contact with each other.

[0019]

[Effect of the Invention] Since the present invention has the above configuration,
The substrate can be accommodated in the substrate cassette without any trouble, and at the time of transporting the empty substrate cassette, the frame constituting the substrate cassette is contracted by the expansion and contraction mechanism so as to be close to each other. The space occupied by the emptied substrate cassette can be reduced as much as possible, so that the empty substrate cassette can be transported relatively easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention in which a telescopic mechanism is extended.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a telescopic mechanism is being contracted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the expansion and contraction mechanism is contracted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state in which a telescopic mechanism according to a second embodiment is extended.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1, 1 'substrate cassette 2 frame 4 shelf 5, 5' telescopic mechanism 6 plate 7a, 7b hinge 9 connecting plate 10, 12 pin 11 swing link

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A telescopic mechanism which has a pair of frames having a multi-stage shelf for holding a peripheral portion of a substrate on an inner surface thereof, and which is capable of horizontally expanding and contracting both upper and lower ends of both frames. A substrate cassette, wherein the substrate cassettes are connected to each other.