JP3853059B2 - Glass plate holding and conveying method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for holding and transporting a glass plate for holding and transporting a thin plate such as a large glass plate to a predetermined place.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, glass plates have been processed to be thin and used in various fields such as liquid crystal panel substrates, color filters, and PDPs (plasma display panels).
[0003]
The glass plate used for the above uses is, for example, placed by an operator on a lower surface plate that has been processed into a rectangle of a predetermined size and then washed with water in advance for dust removal. Thereafter, the surface is polished by the movement (rotation and movement) of the lower surface plate and the upper surface plate. At this time, the glass plate is simultaneously washed with water in order to maintain cleanliness.
[0004]
The polished glass plate is finally washed with water and then lifted by an operator and carried by a person or a transporter to a predetermined place where the next operation is performed. At this time, since the glass plate bends due to its own weight, it must be carefully taken so as not to be damaged when being lifted or transported, and sufficient consideration must be given to changes in mechanical vibration and acceleration during transport.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, after the glass plate is formed in a predetermined size, it is transferred to the lower surface plate by the operator. Alternatively, the glass plate is removed from the lower surface plate by the operator after polishing.
[0006]
By the way, in recent years, in addition to the increase in the size of glass plates (for example, 550 × 650 × 0.7 mm), the polished glass plates are wet and are in close contact with the lower surface plate. It is difficult to transport such a thin glass plate to the lower surface plate without damaging it, or to remove it from the lower surface plate even by a skilled person or a transporter.
[0007]
Then, this invention aims at provision of the holding | maintenance conveyance method of the glass plate which can solve the said subject.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method for holding and conveying a glass plate according to claim 1 includes: a conveying table movable above a rectangular large glass plate; a placing plate for placing the glass plate; and a glass plate on a lower surface side of the conveying table. A gripping member arranged corresponding to both side edges along the length direction and capable of holding both side edges along the length direction of the glass plate, and both sides along the width direction of the glass plate on the lower surface side of the transport table When conveying a glass plate by a glass plate holding and conveying device provided with a shape holding member provided with a curved surface that is curved downward and corresponding to the edge,
The holding member holds both side edges along the length direction, raises the glass plate, makes both side edges along the width direction of the glass plate contact the curved surface of the shape holding member, and the center portion protrudes downward. Curved into a shape,
The glass plate is transferred in a curved state by moving the transfer table,
When the convex part of the central part of the curved glass plate is brought into contact with the mounting plate by lowering the transport table, the gripping member is moved downward so that the contact surface of the glass plate to the mounting plate is outward from the central part. It is placed on the mounting plate so as to spread.
[0009]
According to invention of Claim 1, while holding both the side edges along the length direction of a rectangular-shaped large glass plate with a holding member, curving both side edges along the width direction of a glass plate with a shape holding member. Therefore, it is possible to improve the cross-sectional performance and increase the rigidity, and during the conveyance, the glass plate is not deformed by vibration or the like, and can be conveyed without damaging the thin plate. Furthermore, in order to increase the contact area with the mounting plate so that the glass plate spreads from the center to the outside, there is no air layer between the mounting plate and the thin plate, and even if the substrate is wet, Can be adhered.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the holding | maintenance conveyance apparatus of the glass plate (thin board) which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS.
[0018]
The glass plate holding and conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a conveyance table 2 that is movable in a horizontal plane above the rectangular glass plate 1, and this conveyance table 2 is connected to the base 3. A first moving device 4 for moving in the width direction A of the glass plate 1 is provided on both sides in the length direction B of the glass plate 1.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows only one first moving device 4, and this first moving device 4 is movable to the base 3 via a first rail 5 along the width direction A of the glass plate 1. An L-shaped guide base 6 attached and a first driving means 7 for moving the guide base 6 along the first rail 5 are arranged on the base 3. The moving motor 8 includes a rack 10 that meshes with a drive gear 9 attached to an output shaft of the moving motor 8.
[0020]
The transport table 2 is provided so as to be movable up and down via a lift body 12 attached to a lift rail 11 provided on the guide base 6 so as to be movable up and down, and a second guide for guiding the lift body 12 along the lift rail 11 is provided. One lifting cylinder device 13 is provided.
[0021]
A grip for bending the glass plate 1 along a curved surface 15 of a shape-holding member (described later) 14 while being configured to be movable up and down with respect to the transport table 2 and holding edges on both sides of the glass plate 1. Three pairs of members 16 are provided, and the gripping members 16 on each side are arranged at predetermined intervals in the length direction B of the glass plate 1, and the lower ends of the gripping members 16 are supported from the lower surface of the glass plate 1. A claw portion 17 is formed, and each gripping member 16 is suspended downward through an elevating piece 19 attached to an end portion of a support member 18 provided on the upper surface of the transport table 2 so as to be movable up and down. ing.
[0022]
Each support member 18 is connected by a connecting plate 20 along the length direction B of the glass plate 1, and this connecting plate 20 is transported via a second rail 21 along the width direction A of the glass plate 1. 2 is mounted between the carriage 2 and the connecting plate 20 so as to move the connecting plate 20 along the second rail 21 in a horizontally movable manner. A second elevating cylinder device 23 for elevating the elevating piece 19 with respect to the support member 18 is attached between the support member 18 and the elevating piece 19.
[0023]
In addition, the shape holding member 14 is formed in a plate shape and is hung down on the other side of the carriage 2, and the curved surface 15 is formed in a convex shape downward and the glass plate 1 is along. Adsorption means 24 is formed to have such a curvature as not to break, and to adsorb the upper surfaces of the glass plate 1 on the opposite sides of the curved surface 15 of each shape holding member 14.
[0024]
The suction means 24 is formed upward from the curved surface 15 and is arranged in a plurality (5 in the figure, one for each shape holding member 14) arranged side by side, and communicates with each of the suction holes 25. The suction path 26 and an adsorption pump 27 connected to the suction path 26, and the suction path 26 includes an embedded portion 28 that communicates the suction holes 25 formed in each shape holding member 14 within the shape holding member 14. The suction pump 27 is connected to the protrusion 30 via the suction pipe 31, and is formed by a collecting tube 29 protruding from the upper surface of the shape holding member 14. A recess (air pocket) 32 is formed on the outer periphery of the suction hole 25 on the lower surface of the surface.
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to 7, a transport roller device R for transporting the surface of the polished glass plate 1 to the lower surface plate 33 for washing with water is provided. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, the lower surface plate 33 includes a base body 34 and a mounting plate 35 provided on the upper surface of the base body 34 and having a size corresponding to the size of the glass plate 1. On both sides of the mounting plate 35, grooves 36 are formed in the length direction B of the glass plate 1 at predetermined intervals corresponding to the separation width of the gripping members 16, and each groove 36 has a claw portion 17 of the gripping member 16. It is deeper than this thickness, larger than the length of the claw portion 17 and about twice as wide.
[0026]
The moving motor 8, the first lifting cylinder device 13, the horizontal moving cylinder device 22, the second lifting cylinder device 23, and the suction pump 27 are driven by a control device (not shown). When the gripping member 16 is raised, the second lifting / lowering cylinder device 23 for the one-side gripping member 16 and the second lifting / lowering cylinder device 23 for the other-side gripping member 16 have a function of shifting and driving over time. is doing.
[0027]
In the above configuration, the rectangular glass plate 1 is conveyed by the conveying roller device R and stops at a predetermined place as shown in FIG. When the glass plate 1 stops at a predetermined place, the control device outputs a drive signal to the moving motor 8, whereby the transport table 2 moves along the width direction A of the glass plate 1 via the guide table 6. The control device outputs a stop signal to the moving motor 8 when the carrier 2 arrives right above the glass plate 1.
[0028]
Next, the control device outputs a drive signal to the first lifting / lowering cylinder device 13, whereby the lifting / lowering body 12 is lowered, and as shown in FIG. 6, the conveyance platform 2 and the gripping members 16 on both sides reach the lowest position. Descend. Subsequently, the control device outputs a drive signal to the horizontal movement cylinder device 22 to each second lifting cylinder device 23 on both sides in a state where the support member 18 is maximally separated in the width direction A of the glass plate 1. A drive signal is output. Thereby, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 6, the claw portions 17 of the gripping members 16 further descend while avoiding the glass plate 1.
[0029]
Next, the control device again outputs a drive signal to the cylinder device 22 for horizontal movement, and this causes the gripping members 16 on both sides to approach each other in the width direction A of the glass plate 1 and is indicated by the solid line in FIG. As shown, the claw portion 17 of each gripping member 16 is located on the lower surface of the glass plate 1.
[0030]
When the both side edges of the glass plate 1 are substantially gripped by the gripping members 16 on both sides, the control device outputs a drive signal to each second lifting cylinder device 23. Then, when each nail | claw part 17 contact | abuts to each edge part of the glass plate 1 from a lower surface, and also raises the holding member 16 of both sides, as shown in FIG. The glass member 1 is curved along the curved surface 15 of the holding member 14 and the entire glass plate 1 is curved. At this time, the glass plate 1 is gripped by the gripping member 16 and is prevented from dropping by the claw portion 17. Further, the center of the glass plate 1 and the center of the shape maintaining member 14 are aligned by the gripping member 16.
[0031]
When the first elevating cylinder device 13 is driven to raise the conveyance table 2, the glass plate 1 rises and separates from the conveyance roller device R as shown in FIG.
[0032]
At this time, the control device outputs a drive signal to the suction pump 27, and by driving the suction pump 27, the concave portion 32 becomes negative pressure, and the other side edges of the glass plate 1 are in the shape holding members 14. The glass plate 1 is held in a curved state.
[0033]
Further, when the other side edges of the glass plate 1 are curved along the curved surface 15 of each shape holding member 14, the control device outputs a stop signal to each second lifting cylinder device 23 and moves again. A drive signal is output to the motor 8 and the glass plate 1 is thereby conveyed in the width direction A (left side in FIG. 7). At this time, since the center of the glass plate 1 and the center of the shape holding member 14 are aligned by the gripping member 16, it is easy to set the movement amount of the glass plate 1 by driving the movement motor 8. This is particularly effective when the new glass plate 1 is held and conveyed.
[0034]
When the transport table 2 (glass plate 1) arrives directly above the lower surface plate 33 of the polishing apparatus that has been previously washed with water, the control device outputs a stop signal to the moving motor 8, and first A drive signal is output to the raising / lowering cylinder device 13 to lower the glass plate 1 together with the carrier 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the center of the glass plate 1 is substantially in contact with the center of the mounting plate 35, the control device outputs a stop signal to the suction pump 27 to release the suction and the first lifting and lowering. A stop signal is output to the cylinder device 13 and a drive signal is output to the second lifting cylinder device 23 to lower each gripping member 16.
[0035]
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, as the gripping member 16 descends, the glass plate 1 slowly returns to a flat shape, and the claw portions 17 of the gripping members 16 are fitted into the grooves 36 from above, and the glass The plate 1 is placed on the mounting plate 35. At this time, since the glass plate 1 increases the contact area with the mounting plate 35 so as to spread from the center to the outside, an air layer is not formed between the mounting plate 35 and the glass plate 1 in a wet state, and is closely attached. .
[0036]
The control device then outputs a drive signal to the horizontal movement cylinder device 22 to move the gripping members 16 on both sides in the direction of separating them. At this time, since the width of each groove 36 is formed to be about twice that of the claw portion 17, it is separated from the edge portions on both sides of the glass plate 1 as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. For this reason, the nail | claw part 17 does not contact the edge of the glass plate 1 when the holding member 16 raises next.
[0037]
As described above, with the glass plate 1 placed on the mounting plate 35, the upper platen (not shown) is moved to above the glass plate 1 and polished by the movement of the upper platen and the lower platen 33. Processing. In addition, water cleaning is performed to maintain the surface cleanness.
[0038]
Next, an operation of lifting the glass plate 1 after the polishing process and transporting it to a predetermined place will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 10, the gripping members 16 on both sides are lowered in the same manner as when lifting from the transport roller device R, and the claw portions 17 are applied from below the edge of the glass plate 1 as shown in FIG. Make contact. Subsequently, the control device outputs a drive signal only to the second raising / lowering cylinder device 23 on one side to raise the holding member 16 on one side. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, one side of the glass plate 1 rises and comes into contact with the left part of the curved surface 15 of each shape holding member 14.
[0039]
At this time, the control device outputs a drive signal to the second elevating cylinder device 23 on the other side, and raises the grip member 16 on the other side. At this point, the glass plate 1 is almost peeled off from the mounting plate 35, and the other side edges of the glass plate 1 come into contact with the curved surface 15 of each shape holding member 14 and are brought into close contact with the suction pump 27. And the glass plate 1 is reliably maintained in a curved state.
[0040]
And a control apparatus outputs a drive signal to the cylinder apparatus 13 for 1st raising / lowering, raises the conveyance stand 2, and this raises the glass plate 1, and outputs a drive signal to the motor 8 for a movement, glass plate 1 is moved in the width direction A of the glass plate 1 in contact with the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14 and conveyed to a predetermined place.
[0041]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the glass plate 1 is transported, the glass plate 1 is not simply lifted by the gripping member 16, but the glass plate 1 is curved by the gripping member 16. 15, the suction pump 27 is driven to transport the glass plate 1 while keeping the shape in close contact with the curved surface 15, so that the cross-sectional performance of the glass plate 1 is improved and the rigidity is increased. The glass plate 1 can be reliably transported without swaying in the bending direction in the middle of transportation, and thus without damaging the glass plate 1 and damaging the surface of the glass plate 1. it can.
[0042]
Moreover, when peeling the glass plate 1 from the mounting plate 35, the one side holding member 16 is raised, the edge part of the one side of the glass plate 1 is lifted, and the edge part of the other side is lifted after that. Since the second lifting and lowering cylinder device 23 on both sides is driven to be shifted with time, even the large glass plate 1 in a wet state is not required to be skilled and easily damaged. It can be peeled off from the mounting plate 35.
[0043]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the glass plate holding and conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the holding means 41a having the same length provided with a plurality of (five in the drawing) suction means 40 arranged on the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14 is provided. ˜41e, a suction cup 43 attached to the tip of the collar portion 42 of each of the holders 41a to 41e, and a common suction hole 44 formed in the interior of each collar portion 42 from the surface of each suction cup 43. The suction path 45 includes a suction pump 46 connected to the suction path 45.
[0044]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, since the holders 41a to 41e having the same length are attached to the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14, the same curvature as that of the curved surface 15 is obtained when the suction cups 43 are connected. Become. When the glass plate 1 is lifted from the transport roller device R, the transport table 2 and the gripping members 16 on both sides are lowered to grip both sides of the glass plate 1, the gripping member 16 is lifted to drive the suction pump 46, and the suction cup 43 To adsorb the glass plate 1. At this time, as described above, since the holders 41 a to 41 e having the same length are attached to the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14, the glass plate 1 is along the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14. become.
[0045]
Further, when the glass plate 1 is placed on the placing plate 35, the driving of the suction pump 46 is stopped, and thereafter, the transport table 2 and the gripping members 16 on both sides are lowered. Further, when the glass plate 1 in a wet state after the polishing process is lifted, the holding member 16 on one side is first raised, and then the holding member 16 on the other side is raised to bring the glass plate 1 to the curved surface 15. Then, the suction pump 46 is driven to be sucked by the suction cup 43, and the transport table 2 is raised. Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment .
[0046]
In the second embodiment, five holders 41a to 41e are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on circumstances, three or six or more may be provided. .
[0047]
Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the curvature of the curved surface 15 of the shape holding member 14 is changed, and in the third embodiment, the conveyance is performed by adjusting the stroke of the suction cylinder devices 41a to 41e. The deflection angle of the glass plate 1 at the time can be adjusted.
[0048]
Furthermore, in each said embodiment, although the example of the glass plate 1 was shown as a thin plate, it is not limited to this, A thin and large synthetic resin board | plate material or metal board | plate materials etc. are conveyed similarly. Can do.
[0049]
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the glass plate 1 is lifted from the conveying roller device R or installed on the lower surface plate 33 of the polishing device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the thin plate is lifted. Any device that can be installed on a table or moved can be used.
[0050]
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the gripping members 16 facing each other can be moved toward and away from each other in the width direction A by the horizontal movement cylinder device 22. Depending on the size (length) of the (thin plate), it may be possible to adjust the distance between the holding members 16 in the same row.
[0051]
As is apparent from the above invention, according to the invention described in claim 1, both side edges along the length direction of the rectangular large glass plate are held by the holding member, and the width of the glass plate is held by the shape holding member. Since both side edges along the direction are curved and transported, the cross-sectional performance is improved and rigidity is increased, and during transportation, the glass plate is not deformed by vibration or the like and can be transported without damaging the thin plate. it can. Furthermore, in order to increase the contact area with the mounting plate so that the glass plate spreads from the center to the outside, there is no air layer between the mounting plate and the thin plate, and even if the substrate is wet , Can be adhered.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of a glass sheet holding and conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the shape holding member.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a state in which a glass plate is similarly placed on the mounting plate.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a state in which a glass plate is similarly transported by a transport roller device.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the state where the shape holding member is lowered and the curved surface is brought into contact with the glass plate.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a state in which the glass plate is similarly gripped and along a curved surface.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a state where a glass plate is also brought into contact with the mounting plate.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a state where a glass plate is similarly placed on the mounting plate.
FIG. 10 is a front view of a state where the glass plate is similarly placed on the mounting plate and the shape holding member is positioned above the glass plate.
FIG. 11 is a front view of a state in which a glass plate is similarly placed on the mounting plate.
FIG. 12 is a front view of a state where one side edge portion is also lifted.
FIG. 13 is a front view of a state where the edges on both sides are lifted up.
FIG. 14 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the glass sheet holding and conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged front view of the suction means .
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glass plate 2 Carriage stand 6 Guide stand 8 Movement motor 12 Elevating body 13 First raising / lowering cylinder device 14 Shape holding member 15 Curved surface 16 Holding member 17 Claw part 18 Support member 22 Horizontal movement cylinder device 23 For second raising / lowering Cylinder device 27 Suction pump 32 Recess 33 Lower surface plate 35 Mounting plate 36 Groove 41a Suction cylinder device 43 Suction cup 46 Suction pump A Width direction of glass plate

Claims (2)

A transfer table that is movable above a rectangular large glass plate, a mounting plate on which the glass plate is placed, and arranged on the lower surface side of the transfer table corresponding to both side edges along the length direction of the glass plate A holding member capable of holding both side edges along the length direction of the glass plate, and convex downward toward the lower surface side of the transport table corresponding to both side edges along the width direction of the glass plate When conveying a glass plate by a glass plate holding and conveying device provided with a shape holding member provided with a curved curved surface,
The holding member holds both side edges along the length direction, raises the glass plate, makes both side edges along the width direction of the glass plate contact the curved surface of the shape holding member, and the center portion protrudes downward. Curved into a shape,
The glass plate is transported by moving the transport table in a curved state,
When the convex part of the central part of the curved glass plate comes into contact with the mounting plate by lowering the transport table, the gripping member is lowered and the contact surface of the glass plate to the mounting plate is moved outward from the central part. Place on the plate so that it spreads
A method for holding and conveying a glass plate. The shape holding member is provided with suction means capable of sucking and holding both side edges along the width direction of the glass plate,
When the glass plate is raised by the gripping member and brought into contact with the shape holding member, the suction means adsorbs both side edges along the width direction of the glass plate,
When the carrier plate is lowered and the convex portion of the glass plate comes into contact with the mounting plate, the suction of the glass plate by the suction means is released.
The glass sheet holding and conveying method according to claim 1.

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