JP4557822B2 - Liquid crystal panel mounting method and holding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting a liquid crystal panel, and more particularly, in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure that does not use a bezel is transported to the position of a front panel and mounted. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for mounting a liquid crystal panel used in the method.

A liquid crystal display device that has been widely used conventionally has a bezel as a constituent element in order to protect the liquid crystal panel and increase the mechanical strength, and an example thereof is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional liquid crystal display device with a bezel.
A conventional liquid crystal display device 31 disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 34 that displays an image and a backlight unit 32 that irradiates the liquid crystal panel 34 with a light beam. In the liquid crystal display panel 34, electrodes are respectively formed on a pair of insulating substrates such as a glass substrate, and the insulating substrate is disposed so that the electrodes face each other with a gap through a sealing material, and a liquid crystal layer is provided in the gap. This is a sandwiching structure. A polarizing plate 34a is attached to the surface of the insulating substrate.

  The backlight unit 32 includes a light source such as a cold cathode fluorescent tube (not shown), a lamp reflector, an optical sheet 33 such as a light diffusion sheet 33a or a lens sheet 33b, a light guide plate 35, a reflection plate 36, a chassis 38, and a case 39. Yes. The light beam emitted from the light source disposed on the side surface of the light guide plate 35 is incident from the side surface of the light guide plate 35, propagates in the light guide plate 35, is emitted from the light emission surface, and is applied to the liquid crystal panel 34.

  Between the liquid crystal panel 34 and the light guide plate 35, an optical sheet such as a light diffusion sheet 33a for diffusing the light beam emitted from the light guide plate 35 or a lens sheet 33b for condensing the light beam in the normal direction of the light output surface. 33 is arranged. The reflection plate 36 reflects the light emitted from the light guide plate 35 in the direction of the light emission surface, and increases the brightness of the light emitted from the light emission surface of the light guide plate 35. The chassis 38 is a housing made of a resin molded product, and the components of the backlight unit 32 such as the light guide plate 35 and the lamp cover are held by the chassis 38. The liquid crystal panel 34 is supported by the chassis 38.

  Lower portions of the chassis 38 and the light guide plate 35 are covered with a case 39. The case 39 and the chassis 38 are sandwiched between metal bezels 37 formed by press molding including drawing, bending, and extrusion. The bezel 37 has a frame-shaped outer frame portion that opens an image display portion of the liquid crystal panel 34, and the peripheral portion of the liquid crystal panel 34 is covered with the bezel 37 through a gap 31a. A mounting hole into which a screw or the like is inserted is provided around the outer frame portion, so that the liquid crystal display device 31 is mounted at a predetermined position.

  The bezel 37 is formed with a U-shaped slit or the like at the time of press molding, and is cut and raised from the outer frame portion. As a result, a pressing portion 37 a that contacts the peripheral portion of the liquid crystal panel 34 is formed. Since the bezel 37 is made of spring steel or the like having spring properties, the pressing portion 37a is elastically deformed, and the liquid crystal panel 34 is pressed by the elastic force. As a result, the outer frame liquid crystal panel 34 is pulled apart to form a gap 31 a between the liquid crystal panel 34 and the bezel 37, and the liquid crystal panel 34 and the bezel 37 come into contact with each other due to a dimensional error of the chassis 38 or the bezel 37. Even in this case, the gap 31a is formed.

  In addition, in Patent Document 2, in the assembly work of the liquid crystal module for assembling the liquid crystal panel, bezel, and backlight, the vacuum suction force is reduced in order to eliminate the impact on the liquid crystal panel, securely hold it, and transport it to a predetermined position. It is disclosed to use a vacuum suction means for applying. When holding and transporting such a liquid crystal panel with bezel, positioning it at a predetermined position and assembling it, it can be easily transported and assembled using a vacuum suction means for applying a vacuum suction force. When the size is increased and its weight is increased, the vacuum suction force of the vacuum suction means must be increased, and suction marks are generated on the surface of the liquid crystal panel. If this adsorption mark is temporary, it often disappears over time, but if it does not disappear by the subsequent inspection process, it is difficult to determine whether the product is defective. .

In addition, in the conventional liquid crystal display device with a bezel as described above, the liquid crystal panel is surrounded and supported by the bezel to protect the liquid crystal panel and its end, thereby increasing the mechanical strength, and the liquid crystal during the manufacturing process. The panel was easily handled during transport and assembly. However, recently, developments have been made to simplify the structure of the liquid crystal display device to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembly steps, and to further reduce the cost. As for the bezel, the bezel-less structure simplifies the structure, facilitates automation, and contributes to cost reduction.
JP 2002-055629 A JP-A-11-295732

  The present invention has been made under the circumstances described above, and in the process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure without using a bezel generally used in a conventional liquid crystal panel, the bezel-less liquid crystal is manufactured. When holding and transporting the panel and attaching it to the front panel, etc., hold, transport, and position the LCD panel without touching the surface of the LCD panel, without using vacuum suction means that create suction marks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for mounting a liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure that can be mounted in a manner.

  In addition, the liquid crystal panel drive IC is prevented from being electrostatically damaged when an operator touches the bezel-less liquid crystal panel with relatively low mechanical strength by hand. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel mounting method and a mounting device that can be easily automated and robotized in the positioning and mounting process.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and includes the following technical means.
First technical means is a liquid crystal panel of bezelless structure to transport the liquid crystal panel having a plurality of corners in the notch on out portion to the liquid crystal panel table or rough front panel, it is disposed on the front panel liquid A method for attaching a crystal panel, wherein a holding member that supports a lower surface of the liquid crystal panel is lowered from an upper part of the liquid crystal panel mounting base through the notch portion of the liquid crystal panel, and the holding member is rotated below the liquid crystal panel Then, the liquid crystal panel is positioned on the lower surface, and then the holding member is pulled up, the liquid crystal panel is supported by the holding member from below, the liquid crystal panel is lifted, and the liquid crystal panel is conveyed to the front panel. It is arranged on the front panel .

A second technical means is a liquid crystal panel holding device for transporting a liquid crystal panel having a notch at a plurality of corners of the bezel-less structure from the liquid crystal panel mounting table to the front panel. The liquid crystal panel holding device includes a head movable in horizontal (X, Y), vertical (Z) and tilt (θ) axial directions, and a plurality of arms erected on the lower surface of the head so that mutual position adjustment is possible. And a liquid crystal panel holding member that is rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm axis at the lower end of the arm axis. With the panel holding member aligned with the arm shaft, the head is lowered to lower the holding member through the notch portion of the liquid crystal panel to the lower side of the liquid crystal panel, and then the holding member is moved to the horizontal direction. Axial Warini rotated to position the said retaining member in the lower portion of the liquid crystal panel, then, characterized in that so as to support the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel by the holding member by pulling the head to hold the liquid crystal panel And

A third technical means is a liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure, and a liquid crystal panel holding device for transporting a liquid crystal panel having notches at a plurality of corners of the liquid crystal panel from a liquid crystal panel mounting table to a front panel. A head that can move in the horizontal (X, Y), vertical (Z), and tilt (θ) axis directions, a plurality of arms that are erected on the lower surface of the head so that mutual position adjustment is possible, and expansion and contraction for each arm A free and rotatable arm shaft, and a liquid crystal panel holding member extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the arm shaft at a lower end of the arm shaft. Through the liquid crystal panel, and then the arm shaft is rotated to position the holding member at the lower portion of the liquid crystal panel, and then the head is pulled up to hold the liquid crystal panel at the holding member. Support the lower surface, characterized in that so as to hold the liquid crystal panel.

The present invention relates to notches provided at a plurality of corners of a liquid crystal panel in a process for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a bezel-less liquid crystal panel that does not use a bezel generally used in a conventional liquid crystal panel. The holding member provided in the holding means of the liquid crystal panel is lowered through the opening , and the holding member is rotated and positioned at the lower part of the lower part of the liquid crystal panel , and then the holding member is pulled up to the holding member. conveyed to the front panel to hold the liquid crystal panel, after placement on the front panel, and pulling the holding member through the notch portion of the holding member is rotated, the liquid crystal panel before Kibe Zeruresu structure since so as to place on the front panel, without adsorbed mark occurs in the liquid crystal panel surface, it does not give trouble to the work in the subsequent inspection process.

  In addition, because the operator does not touch the bezel-less liquid crystal panel with relatively low mechanical strength, the IC for driving the liquid crystal panel mounted on the liquid crystal opening panel is not electrostatically destroyed and can be stably adsorbed. It is possible to easily automate and robotize the operation of positioning and mounting the liquid crystal panel having the bezel-less structure on the front panel or the like of the display device by holding and transporting it for a predetermined distance.

Hereinafter, a method for assembling the liquid crystal panel of the present invention will be described based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a liquid crystal display device having a bezel-less structure targeted by the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a transmissive liquid crystal display device 1 targeted by the present invention includes a backlight unit 2, a liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel 11, a front panel 18 such as a TV cabinet, and the like. The fixing holder 10 is interposed between the liquid crystal opening panel 11 and the malt 14, the shield plate 15, the spacer 16, and the malt 17 are interposed between the liquid crystal opening panel 11 and the front panel 18.

  The backlight unit 2 includes a case-like backlight shield 3 whose inner surface is highly reflectively coated, a lamp 5 such as a cold cathode fluorescent tube attached to a lamp holder 4, a diffusion plate 6, a diffusion sheet 7, and a first prism sheet 8. The second prism sheet 9 is supported by the fixed holder 10, and the light beam emitted from the lamp 5 is spread over the entire surface of the liquid crystal opening panel 11 by the diffusion plate 6, the diffusion sheet 7, the first prism sheet 8, the second prism sheet 9, and the like. The liquid crystal opening panel 11 is irradiated with a uniform light flux.

  A liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel 11 has a configuration in which a liquid crystal panel 12 and a source / gate driver substrate 13 are connected. The liquid crystal panel 12 has electrodes formed on a pair of insulating substrates such as a glass substrate, and a seal. An insulating substrate is disposed so that the electrodes face each other with a gap through the material, a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched in the gap, and a polarizing plate 4a is attached to the surface of the insulating substrate. The source / gate driver substrate 13 is mounted with an IC of a source signal driving circuit and a gate signal driving circuit, and transmits control signals to a plurality of transistors formed on the insulating substrate. A liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel 11 is integrated with the backlight unit 2 via a fixed holder 10.

  The liquid crystal opening panel 11 integrated with the backlight unit 2 is positioned on the front panel 18 through a fine sponge-like malt 14, a shield plate 15 made of stainless steel, aluminum, etc., a spacer 16, and a malt 17. It is attached with screws. The liquid crystal panel having the above-described structure does not require the bezel provided in the conventional liquid crystal panel, and the liquid crystal opening panel 11 integrated with the backlight unit 2 is directly fixed to the front panel 18 without the bezel. ing.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a panel opening crystal (LCD), 2 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 2 (B) shows a notch of a triangular shape, Fig. 2 (C) L-shape It shows the notch of FIG. 2 (D) shows a notch of arc shape.
In the liquid crystal opening panel 11 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2A, electrodes are formed on a pair of insulating substrates such as a glass substrate, and the electrodes face each other with a gap through a sealing material. An insulating substrate is disposed, and a liquid crystal panel 12 having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the insulating substrate and a source / gate driver substrate 13 are connected. The liquid crystal panel 12 of the liquid crystal opening panel 11, cutout portions 12a are formed in a portion deviated from the image display region A that corners (appears not part in the opening of the front panel). Notch 12a is 4 but is provided at two positions on at least the diagonal corners, in order to more stably hold the liquid crystal opening panel 11 is formed in three or four locations. The shape of the cutout portion 12a is that the cut out in a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 2 (B) is generally not limited to the triangular shape, for example, FIG. 2 (C), the as (D) It can be cut into an L shape, an arc shape, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a production line of a liquid crystal display device.
The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 is assembled by the following series of processes inside and outside the clean room.
(1) Inserting the front panel 18 into the production line (2) Inserting the malt 17, spacer 16, shield plate 15 and malt 14 (3) Inserting the liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel 11 (4) Inserting the fixed holder 10 ( 5) Insertion of the first and second prism sheets 8 and 9 (6) Insertion of the diffusion sheet 7 (7) Insertion of a cold cathode fluorescent tube lamp 5 attached to the lamp holder 4 (8) Insertion of the backlight shield 3 (9) Inserting the board unit (10) Screw fixing

  Through the steps (1) to (10), a semi-finished product of a liquid crystal display device in which the backlight unit 2, the liquid crystal opening panel 11, and the front panel 18 are integrated is assembled. This semi-finished liquid crystal display device can be energized by connecting a flexible substrate in a subsequent process, and after functional inspection and adjustment as shown in FIG. After being tightened, a dielectric breakdown voltage inspection, a panel defect inspection, and the like are further performed to complete the liquid crystal display device.

  In the above processes (1), (2), (4) to (10), each component that is horizontally or vertically stacked on a dedicated tray on the side of the production line is a mechanical grip type according to its material or structure. It can be held and transported by an appropriate holding means such as a suction disk type, an electromagnetic magnet type, a vacuum suction type, etc., positioned at a predetermined position, and attached to an attached body.

  However, in the step of inserting the liquid crystal opening panel 11 into the front panel 18 in the step (3), the liquid crystal opening panel 11 (the liquid crystal panel 12 to which the source / gate driver substrate 13 is connected) and the backlight unit 2 have a bezelless structure. Since it is a single unit, it has a smaller mechanical strength than a conventional liquid crystal panel with a bezel, and in the case of a large liquid crystal panel with a large weight, it is held and transferred by a holding means such as a vacuum suction type as before. As a result, excessive deflection may occur and adversely affect the liquid crystal panel.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing holding means used for holding and transporting the liquid crystal opening panel, and FIG. 4 (A) shows a state in which the liquid crystal opening panel is placed on the dedicated tray, and FIG. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the holding means holds and conveys the liquid crystal opening panel, and FIG. 4C shows a state in which the liquid crystal opening panel is positioned and inserted on the front panel.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (A), a bezel-less liquid crystal opening panel 11 is placed in a horizontally stacked state on a PP resin pack tray 21 installed on the side of the production line as shown in FIG. . A plurality of pack trays 21 can be stacked.

The holding means shown in FIG. 4B has a head 22 that can move in the directions of four axes ( horizontal X and Y axes , vertical Z axis , and tilting axis θ axis ). The plurality of arms 23 that can be adjusted with respect to each other have an arm shaft 24 that can be expanded and contracted and rotated with respect to the arm 23, and the lower end of the arm shaft 24 rotates around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm shaft 24. A movable liquid crystal panel holding member 25 is provided.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), an arm shaft 24 and the holding member 25 is a straight line state, the holding member 25 by extending the arm shaft 24 downward through the cutout portion 12a of the liquid crystal opening panel 11 lowered, when the holding member 25 has reached the lower liquid crystal opening panel 11, the holding member 25 is rotated about a horizontal axis of the arm shaft 24 and horizontally the holding member 25, the liquid crystal to the holding member 25 After being positioned at the bottom of the opening panel 11, the holding member 25 is pulled up . Thereby, at least two places on the lower surface of the liquid crystal opening panel 11 are supported by the holding member 25. Here, the position and direction of each holding member 25 is adjusted in advance so as to correspond to the position and shape of the notch 12a.

Control of the X, Y, Z, and θ axes of the conveying means that moves the head 22 in the four-axis direction is performed by rotating a ball screw with a servo motor, but a reciprocating cylinder may be used in combination to widen the operating range. it can. Further, the arm shaft 24 stretches respect to the arm 23, is to that control rotation around the arm 23, can be carried out or rotating the ball screw by a servo motor, and or to extend and retract the cylinder.

When attaching the liquid crystal opening panel 11 placed on the pack tray 21 to the front panel 18, first, the head 22 is moved by the conveying means and lowered to the position of the liquid crystal opening panel 11 placed on the pack tray 21. holding member 25 is lowered down through the notch 12a of the holding member 25 by extending the arm shaft 24 in a position that does not interfere with the notch 12a, is rotated so as then holding member 25 is horizontal, then the arm by shortening the shaft 24, the liquid crystal opening panel 11 on the holding member 25 that holds the head 22.

Next, the head 22 is raised by the conveying means, lowered onto the front panel 18 fixed to the conveyor on the production line, the arm shaft 24 is extended and positioned, and then the holding member 25 is aligned with the arm shaft 24. is rotated so that, by shortening the arm shaft 24 that extends pulled through the notch portion 12a, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), arranging the liquid crystal opening panel 11 at a predetermined position of the front panel 18 .

In FIG. 4, the example in which each holding member 25 is rotatable around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm shaft 24 has been described. However, each holding member 25 is rotatable around the axis of the arm shaft 24. You can also. In this case, lowering the arm shaft 24 in a state that the direction not interfering with the horizontally projecting holding member 25 a notch 12a, a holding member 25 through the notch 12a is lowered below the liquid crystal opening panel 11, When the liquid crystal opening panel 11 is reached below, each holding member 25 is rotated around the axis of the arm shaft 24 so that each holding member 25 is positioned below the liquid crystal opening panel , and then the holding member 25 is pulled up. Accordingly, the liquid crystal opening panel 11 can be held on the holding member 25 .

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the example of the liquid crystal display device of the bezelless structure which this invention makes object. It is a figure which shows a liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing line of a liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the holding means used when hold | maintaining and conveying a liquid crystal opening panel. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the conventional liquid crystal display device with a bezel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal display device, 2 ... Backlight unit, 3 ... Backlight shield, 4 ... Lamp holder, 5 ... Lamp, 6 ... Diffusing plate, 7 ... Diffusion sheet, 8 ... 1st prism sheet, 9 ... 2nd prism sheet DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fixed holder, 11 ... Liquid crystal (LCD) opening panel, 12 ... Liquid crystal panel, 12a ... Notch part , 13 ... Source / gate driver board | substrate, 14 ... Malt, 15 ... Shield plate, 16 ... Spacer, 17 ... Malt , 18 ... front panel, 21 ... pack tray, 22 ... head, 23 ... arm, 24 ... arm shaft, 25 ... liquid crystal panel holding member .

Claims (3)

A liquid crystal panel of bezelless structure to transport the liquid crystal panel having a notch on out portions into a plurality of corners to the liquid crystal panel table or rough front panel, met mounting method of a liquid crystal panel disposed on the front panel The holding member that supports the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel is lowered from the upper part of the liquid crystal panel mounting table through the notch portion of the liquid crystal panel, and the holding member is rotated below the liquid crystal panel to rotate the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel. Next, the holding member is pulled up, the liquid crystal panel is supported by the holding member from below, the liquid crystal panel is lifted, and the liquid crystal panel is transported to the front panel and disposed on the front panel. A mounting method of a liquid crystal panel characterized by . A liquid crystal panel holding device for transporting a liquid crystal panel having a notch at a plurality of corners of a liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure from a liquid crystal panel mounting table to a front panel, the liquid crystal panel holding device comprising: , A head movable in the horizontal (X, Y), vertical (Z) and tilt (θ) axial directions, a plurality of arms erected on the lower surface of the head so that mutual position adjustment is possible, and for each arm An arm shaft that is extendable and rotatable, and a liquid crystal panel holding member that is rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm axis at a lower end of the arm shaft, and the liquid crystal panel holding member is connected to the arm shaft The head is lowered and the holding member is lowered to the lower side of the liquid crystal panel through the notch portion of the liquid crystal panel, and then the holding member is rotated around the horizontal axis. The The support member is positioned below the liquid crystal panel, then, the liquid crystal panel you characterized by supporting the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel by the holding member by pulling the head so as to hold the liquid crystal panel Holding device . In a liquid crystal panel holding device for transporting a liquid crystal panel having a notch at a plurality of corners of the liquid crystal panel from a liquid crystal panel mounting table to a front panel, the liquid crystal panel having a bezel-less structure, horizontal (X, Y), A head movable in the vertical (Z) and tilt (θ) axial directions, a plurality of arms erected on the lower surface of the head so that mutual position adjustment is possible, and an arm that is extendable and rotatable with respect to each arm A liquid crystal panel holding member that extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the arm shaft at a lower end of the arm shaft, and the liquid crystal panel passes through the notch portion of the liquid crystal panel and extends below the liquid crystal panel. Then, the arm shaft is rotated to position the holding member at the lower part of the liquid crystal panel, and then the head is pulled up to support the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel with the holding member. Panel you characterized in that so as to hold the liquid crystal panel holding device.

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