JP5291665B2 - Panel processing system and panel processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve manufacturing efficiency by means of repairing in parallel defectives generated in a manufacturing line. <P>SOLUTION: The panel processing system includes: a plurality of conveyor units which are connected and operate independently; a panel let-off device which sends defective panels to the outside; a repair panel transfer device which determines whether the defective panels can be repaired and separates repairable panels from unrepairable panels, and transfers the repairable panels for repair processing; a repair device provided together to the conveyor unit; a repair panel inspection device which inspects panels subjected to repair processing by the repair device; a non-defective panel transfer device which determines whether the panels inspected by the repair panel inspection device is defective and separates non-defective panels from defective panels, and transfer the non-defective panels; a panel receiving device which receives the non-defective panels and returns them to the conveyor unit; and a control device for controlling them. A panel processing method includes substantially the same process as the processing by the control device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a panel processing system and a panel processing method for inspecting and repairing liquid crystal panels and the like.

  The manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel mainly includes a glass substrate processing process, an array process, a color filter process, a cell process, and a module process. At the final stage of the cell process, a lighting inspection device performs a lighting inspection of the panel to select a non-defective product and a defective product. Defective panels are sorted into panels that can correct defects and those that cannot. The panel that can be corrected is corrected by the laser repair device, and the panel that cannot be corrected is stored in a defective product cassette or the like.

  After the lighting inspection of the cell process line, the non-defective panel and the defective panel are mixed and conveyed to the final end by the conveyor.

  At the final end, the panel is transferred to the cassette by a transfer device such as a robot. At this time, the panels are sorted into non-defective products and defective products and stored in good product cassettes and defective product cassettes, respectively. Non-defective products flow to the module process, which is the next process. The defective product cassette includes a correctable product cassette and an uncorrectable product cassette, and the correctable product cassette is conveyed to the repair device, and the defect of the panel in the cassette is corrected. The panel in which the defect has been corrected is inspected by a lighting inspection device, the degree of correction is confirmed, and the non-defective panel is returned to the line.

  Patent documents 1 and 2 are documents relating to the manufacture of such a liquid crystal panel.

  In Patent Document 1, the inspection apparatus inspects all the glass substrates staying in the zone, determines the quality of the glass substrates, and collects the glass substrates that have become defective due to staying in the carry-out device. The recovered defective glass substrate is transported to an independent repair device away from the production line and subjected to a repair process.

  In Patent Document 2, when a defective product is generated on the liquid crystal panel production line, the defective product is eliminated and the defective product generated on the line is completely eliminated, so that the defective product is not carried into the subsequent process. To stop. The rejected defective product is transported to an independent repair device away from the production line and subjected to a repair process.

JP 2009-109621 A JP-A-10-325958

  In each of the above-described devices, the repair device is separated from the production line and is independent. Therefore, the defective cassette containing the defective product is transported to the repair device, and the panel corrected by the repair device is transported to the lighting inspection device. Is a problem. If this transportation is performed manually, it takes time and is inefficient. In order to automate this transportation, a cassette transportation device or the like is required, and there is a problem that the line configuration becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a panel processing system and a panel processing method in which production efficiency is improved by incorporating a repair device that has been separated from the manufacturing line so far into the manufacturing line.

  In order to solve the above problems, a liquid crystal panel processing system of the present invention is connected to a plurality of units and is independently operated, and is incorporated into one of the conveyor units, and is conveyed by the conveyor units. A panel sending device that sends out a defective panel to the outside, and a correction panel transfer device that transfers the correctable product by sorting the defective panel sent by the panel sending device into a correctable product and an uncorrectable product And a repair device provided in the conveyor unit, a repair panel inspection device that inspects a panel that has been repaired by the repair device, and a panel that is inspected by the repair panel inspection device is classified into a non-defective product and a defective product. And the non-defective panel transfer device incorporated in any one of the conveyor units. A panel receiving device back to the conveyor unit receives the Luo good panel, characterized by comprising a control device for controlling the same.

  The control device identifies the defective panel from the panels flowing through the conveyor units, and controls the conveyor unit when the defective panel is positioned on the conveyor unit in which the panel delivery device is incorporated. Stop moving the defective panel. Further, the control device controls the panel sending device so that the defective panel is sent from the conveyor unit while the conveyor unit having the panel sending device is stopped, and the conveyor has the panel receiving device installed. The panel receiving apparatus is controlled so that the non-defective panel is received by the conveyor unit while the unit is stopped.

  The panel processing method includes processing steps that are substantially the same as those performed by the control device of the panel processing system.

  Since a defective product generated in the production line is repaired in the production line and corrected in parallel with the processing in the production line and returned to the production line, production efficiency can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the panel processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the panel sending apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the panel sending apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3. It is a top view which shows the alignment mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the lifter and alignment mechanism which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing function of the control apparatus which concerns on the panel processing method of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the panel sending apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a panel processing system and a panel processing method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Panel processing system]
The panel processing system of the present embodiment is a system that improves the overall processing efficiency by improving the method of processing defective products that occur when a plurality of inspection objects are continuously processed. The panel processing system is configured as part of the cell process and is connected to the next module process. This panel processing system is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the panel processing system 1 includes a conveyor unit 2, an inspection device 3, a repair device 4, a repair panel cassette 5, a non-repairable panel cassette 6, a panel sending device 7, and a correction panel. It consists of a transfer device 8, a repair panel transfer device 9, a repair panel inspection device 10, a non-defective panel transfer device 11, a defective product cassette 12, a panel receiving device 13, and a control device 14. .

  The conveyor unit 2 is a unit that constitutes a conveyor that conveys the liquid crystal panel 15 that is the inspection object by being connected in plural. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor unit 2 includes two frame plates 16, a rotating roller 17, and a driving device (not shown). The rotating roller 17 is configured by providing six thick discs 17B on a rotating shaft 17A. A plurality of rotating rollers 17 are arranged in parallel, and are rotatably supported by two frame plates 16. The driving device (not shown) rotates the rotating roller 17 and conveys the liquid crystal panel 15 on the rotating roller 17. An existing device can be used as the driving device.

  The conveyor units 2 are configured to operate independently of each other. In FIG. 1, 14 conveyor units 2 (16 including the panel sending device 7 and the panel receiving device 13) are connected in a row, and the panel sending device 7 and the panel are placed in the middle of this row of conveyor units 2. A receiving device 13 is incorporated. Each conveyor unit 2 is connected to the control device 14 and is individually controlled. That is, each conveyor unit 2 is individually controlled by the control device 14, and the conveyance of each liquid crystal panel 15 placed on each conveyor unit 2 is individually controlled to move each liquid crystal panel 15 individually. , Can be stopped.

  The inspection apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus for inspecting the liquid crystal panel 15. In the present embodiment, the inspection device 3 inspects the liquid crystal panel 15 for lighting. A plurality of inspection devices 3 are provided in the connected conveyor units 2. The inspection apparatus 3 is provided in a number corresponding to the required processing capacity. In the present embodiment, two inspection devices 3 are provided along the conveyor unit 2. When increasing the processing capacity, three or more inspection devices 3 are provided along the conveyor unit 2. If the required processing capacity is small, one inspection device 3 may be provided. As the inspection device 3, all existing inspection devices can be used. This inspection device 3 takes out and inspects the liquid crystal panel 15 conveyed by each conveyor unit 2 and returns it to the original state after the inspection is completed. The inspection result by the inspection device 3 is managed by the control device 14.

  The repair device 4 is a device for correcting defects in the liquid crystal panel 15. The repair device 4 can use all existing repair devices such as a device that corrects a defect using a laser beam and a device that corrects a defect by applying a voltage. The repair device 4 is provided side by side with each of the conveyor units 2 connected in plural, and the liquid crystal panel 15 determined to be defective by the inspection device 3 is taken out of the conveyor unit 2 and subjected to a repair process. The repair device 4 is connected to the control device 14 and is subjected to repair processing based on the position, degree, etc. of defects managed by the control device 14.

  The repair panel cassette 5 is a cassette that supports the correctable liquid crystal panel 15 and is incorporated in the repair device 4. The repair panel cassette 5 stores a correctable product out of the defective liquid crystal panel 15 taken out from the conveyor unit 2 and is incorporated in the repair device 4 for repair processing.

  The unrepairable panel cassette 6 is a cassette for storing and storing the liquid crystal panel 15 that cannot be corrected. The unrepairable panel cassette 6 stores and stores uncorrectable products out of the defective liquid crystal panels 15 taken out from the conveyor unit 2. The unrepairable panel cassette 6 is carried out to the outside after a certain amount of the liquid crystal panel 15 has accumulated.

  The panel sending device 7 is a device for sending out a panel (defective panel) determined to be defective by the inspection device 3 among the liquid crystal panels 15 conveyed by the conveyor units 2 to the outside. The panel sending device 7 is integrated in any one of the conveyor units 2. In this embodiment, the panel sending device 7 is integrally incorporated in the eighth conveyor unit 2 from the upstream side. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating roller 17 of the conveyor unit 2 is divided into two parts by a partition plate 16A to secure a storage space for an X-axis alignment mechanism portion 37 described later.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the panel delivery device 7 mainly includes a lifter 18, an alignment mechanism 19, and a slide mechanism 20.

  The lifter 18 is a device for lifting the liquid crystal panel 15. The lifter 18 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) includes a support pin 22, a lift plate 23, and a lift 24.

  The support pins 22 are rods for supporting the liquid crystal panel 15. Twelve support pins 22 are arranged vertically so that the liquid crystal panel 15 can be stably supported.

  The elevating plate 23 is a plate material that supports the alignment mechanism 19 and the support pins 22 to move up and down. The lift plate 23 is supported by the lift 24.

  The elevator 24 is a device that supports the lifting plate 23 and lifts the alignment mechanism 19 and the support pins 22 through the lifting plate 23. Specifically, the elevator 24 raises the support pins 22 from between the rotating rollers 17 of the conveyor unit 2 so as to catch the defective liquid crystal panel 15 when the liquid crystal panel 15 is sent to the repair device 4 side. It has become. The elevator 24 includes a support plate 31, a guide bar 32, a lift cylinder 33, a lift support plate 34, and a support column 35.

  The support plate 31 is a plate material for directly supporting the elevating plate 23. The support plate 31 is integrally fixed to the lift plate 23. The guide bar 32 is a bar material for guiding the lifting and lowering of the support plate 31. The guide bar 32 is integrally provided on the lower side of the support plate 31 and is arranged in the vertical direction. The guide rods 32 are provided at at least four places on the lower side of the support plate 31 and guide the support plate 31 so as to move up and down stably. The elevating cylinder 33 is a device for elevating the support pins 22 via the support plate 31 and the elevating plate 23 supported by the guide rod 32. A lifting shaft 33 </ b> A of the lifting cylinder 33 is fixed to the support plate 31. The elevating cylinder 33 is configured by incorporating a drive mechanism such as an air cylinder and is controlled by the control device 14. The elevating support plate 34 is a plate material for fixing and supporting the elevating cylinder 33 and supporting the guide bar 32 so as to be movable up and down. The elevating support plate 34 is supported by a column 35. The support column 35 is fixed to the apparatus main body side.

  The alignment mechanism 19 is a device for positioning the liquid crystal panel 15 in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the alignment mechanism 19 includes an X-axis alignment mechanism unit 37 and a Y-axis alignment mechanism unit 38.

  The X-axis alignment mechanism unit 37 is a mechanism for adjusting the position of the liquid crystal panel 15 lifted by the support pins 22 in the X-axis direction (conveyance direction). The X-axis alignment mechanism unit 37 includes a first positioning pin 41 and a second positioning pin 42 provided on the support plate 40. The support plate 40 is formed in a rectangular plate shape elongated in the X-axis direction (transport direction of the liquid crystal panel 15).

  The first positioning pin 41 is a device for pressing one edge of the liquid crystal panel 15 in the X-axis direction. The first positioning pin 41 includes a contact portion 44, a support column 45, and a slide mechanism 46. The contact portion 44 is a member that directly contacts the edge of the liquid crystal panel 15. The contact part 44 is made of an elastic member. The support 45 is a member for integrally supporting the contact portion 44 and contacting the edge of the liquid crystal panel 15. The slide mechanism 46 is a device for sliding the contact portion 44 in the X-axis direction via the support column 45. The slide mechanism 46 includes a slider 48, a guide rail 49, and a drive unit (not shown). The slider 48 is integrally attached to the column 45 and is slidably fitted to the guide rail 49. The guide rail 49 is disposed on the support plate 40 in the X-axis direction, and guides the slider 48 in the X-axis direction. The drive unit is composed of a linear motion mechanism or the like, and moves the slider 48 in the X-axis direction. The drive unit is connected to the control device 14 and controlled by the control device 14.

  The second positioning pin 42 is a device for pressing the other edge of the liquid crystal panel 15 in the X-axis direction. The second positioning pin 42 is configured in the same manner as the first positioning pin 41. That is, the second positioning pin 42 includes a contact portion 44, a support 45, and a slide mechanism 46, and is disposed in the direction opposite to the first positioning pin 41. The contact portion 44 of the first positioning pin 41 and the contact portion 44 of the second positioning pin 42 are positioned in the X-axis direction with the liquid crystal panel 15 sandwiched from both sides.

  The Y-axis alignment mechanism unit 38 is a mechanism for adjusting the position of the liquid crystal panel 15 lifted by each support pin 22 in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis alignment mechanism unit 38 includes a first positioning pin 52 and a second positioning pin 53 provided on the elevating plate 23. The support plate 23 supports the support pins 22, the X-axis alignment mechanism unit 37, the first positioning pins 52, and the second positioning pins 53.

  The first positioning pin 52 is a device for pressing one edge of the liquid crystal panel 15 in the Y-axis direction. The first positioning pin 52 includes a contact portion 55, a support column 56, and a slide mechanism 57. The contact portion 55 is a member that directly contacts the edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 15. The contact portion 55 is made of an elastic member. The support column 56 is a member for integrally supporting the contact portion 55 and contacting the edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 15. The slide mechanism 57 is a device for sliding the contact portion 55 in the Y-axis direction via the support column 56. The slide mechanism 57 includes a slider 59, a guide rail 60, and a drive unit (not shown). The slider 59 is integrally attached to the column 56 and is slidably fitted to the guide rail 60. Two guide rails 60 are disposed on the support plate 23 in parallel to the Y-axis direction, and guide the slider 59 in the Y-axis direction. The drive unit includes a linear motion mechanism or the like, and moves the slider 59 in the Y-axis direction. The drive unit is connected to the control device 14 and controlled by the control device 14.

  The second positioning pin 53 is a device for pressing the other edge of the liquid crystal panel 15 in the Y-axis direction. The second positioning pin 53 is configured in the same manner as the first positioning pin 52. That is, the second positioning pin 53 includes a contact portion 55, a support column 56, and a slide mechanism 57, and is disposed in the direction opposite to the first positioning pin 52. The contact portion 55 of the first positioning pin 52 and the contact portion 55 of the second positioning pin 53 sandwich the liquid crystal panel 15 from both sides to perform positioning in the Y-axis direction.

  The slide mechanism unit 20 is a device for transporting the liquid crystal panel 15 lifted by the lifter 18 and positioned by the alignment mechanism unit 19 to the repair device 4 side. That is, the slide mechanism unit 20 supports the liquid crystal panel 15 lifted and positioned by the lifter 18 and the alignment mechanism unit 19 and slides the liquid crystal panel 15 toward the repair device 4 to carry it to the position of the correction panel transfer device 8. Device. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the slide mechanism unit 20 includes a hand 62 and a slide device 63.

  The hand 62 is a member that supports the liquid crystal panel 15. The hand 62 includes three support rods 65 and a support plate 66. The three support rods 65 are arranged in parallel at regular intervals so as to be positioned between the rotating rollers 17 of the conveyor unit 2. A square recess 16B (see FIG. 5) is provided in a portion of the partition plate 16A where each support bar 65 is located. The square recess 16B is a recess into which each support rod 65 is fitted when the hand 62 is in a standby state. A panel receiver 68 is provided on the upper side surface of each support bar 65 to directly contact and support the liquid crystal panel 15. A plurality of panel receivers 68 (three in this embodiment) are provided at regular intervals. The panel receiver 68 is made of an elastic member, and safely supports the liquid crystal panel 15 without damaging it. The support plate 66 is a plate material that integrally supports the base end portions of the three support rods 65.

  The slide device 63 is a device for transporting the liquid crystal panel 15 to the correction panel transfer device 8 side. The slide device 63 includes an up / down moving unit 70 and a left / right moving unit 71. The vertical movement unit 70 is a device for supporting the hand 62 and moving it up and down. The vertical movement unit 70 includes a vertical rail plate 73 and a vertical slider 74. The upper and lower rail plates 73 are plate members that dispose the rails 75 in the vertical direction. The vertical slider 74 is a member that moves up and down by being fitted into the rail 75 while being fixed to the hand 62. The vertical slider 74 and the rail 75 incorporate a drive unit (not shown) such as a linear motion mechanism. Thereby, the vertical slider 74 is moved along the rail 75, and the hand 62 is moved up and down.

  The left / right moving unit 71 is a device for moving the hand 62 left and right via the up / down moving unit 70. The left / right moving unit 71 includes a left / right rail plate 77 and a left / right slider 78. The left and right rail plate 77 is a plate material for arranging the rail 79 in the left and right direction. The left and right rail plates 77 are provided across the two frame plates 16 of the conveyor unit 2. The left and right rail plates 77 are provided with panel detection sensors 77A. This panel detection sensor 77 </ b> A is a sensor for detecting the liquid crystal panel 15 being conveyed on the conveyor unit 2. Among the liquid crystal panels 15 detected by the panel detection sensor 77A, when the defective panel specified by the control device 14 is detected based on the inspection result of the inspection device 3, the conveyor unit 2 is stopped and the liquid crystal panel 15 is moved. Stop. From the position detected by the panel detection sensor 77A, the liquid crystal panel 15 is transported and stopped by a preset amount of movement. This stop position is a position directly above the support pin 22 of the panel sending device 7.

  The left and right slider 78 is a member that fits into the rail 79 and moves to the left and right. A linear motion mechanism is incorporated in the left and right sliders 78 and the rails 79 so that the left and right sliders 78 are moved along the rails 79 and the hand 62 is moved to the left and right. As a result, the hand 62 is slid to the repair device 4 side (the correction panel transfer device 8 side) to a position protruding from the frame plate 16, and the liquid crystal panel 15 is transported to the position of the correction panel transfer device 8. ing. The linear motion mechanism is connected to the control device 14 and moves the hand 62 left and right under the control of the control device 14.

  The correction panel transfer device 8 shown in FIG. 1 is a device for distributing and transferring the liquid crystal panel 15 sent by the panel sending device 7 into a correctable product and an uncorrectable product. The correction panel transfer device 8 includes a transfer device such as a robot arm. The correction panel transfer device 8 receives the liquid crystal panel 15 placed on the hand 62 of the panel sending device 7, transfers the correctable liquid crystal panel 15 to the repair panel cassette 5, and the uncorrectable liquid crystal panel. The panel 15 is transferred to the unrepairable panel cassette 6. The correction panel transfer device 8 is connected to the control device 14. The control device 14 controls the correction panel transfer device 8 based on the inspection result of the inspection device 3 to identify and distribute the correctable liquid crystal panel 15 and the uncorrectable liquid crystal panel 15. .

  The repair panel transfer device 9 is a device for transferring the liquid crystal panel 15 subjected to the repair process by the repair device 4 to the repair panel inspection device 10. The repair panel transfer device 9 is configured by the same device as the correction panel transfer device 8.

  The repair panel inspection device 10 is a device for receiving and inspecting the liquid crystal panel 15 subjected to the repair process by the repair device 4 from the repair panel transfer device 9. The repair panel inspection device 10 inspects whether or not the defect of the liquid crystal panel 15 has been corrected by the repair device 4.

  The non-defective panel transfer device 11 is a device for transferring the liquid crystal panel 15 inspected by the repair panel inspection device 10 into a non-defective product and a defective product. The non-defective panel transfer device 11 transfers the non-defective liquid crystal panel 15 to the panel receiving device 13, and transfers the defective liquid crystal panel 15 to the defective product cassette 12.

  The defective product cassette 12 is a cassette for storing the defective product liquid crystal panel 15 whose defect could not be corrected by the repair device 4. The defective product cassette 12 is carried outside when a certain amount of defective liquid crystal panels 15 are accumulated.

  The panel receiving device 13 is a device for receiving a non-defective liquid crystal panel 15 from the non-defective panel transfer device 11 and returning it to the conveyor unit 2. The panel receiving device 13 has the same configuration as the panel sending device 7 and operates in the reverse direction. The panel receiving device 13 is integrally incorporated in the conveyor unit 2 which is one of the conveyor units 2 and downstream of the panel sending device 7. Specifically, the panel receiving device 13 is integrally incorporated in the fourteenth conveyor unit 2 from the upstream side of the conveyor unit 2 including the panel sending device 7.

  The control device 14 is connected to each of the above-described devices and is a device for controlling them. The control device 14 includes an inspection process, an inspection result capturing process, a panel movement adjustment process, a panel sending process, a defective panel distribution process, a repair process, a repair panel transfer process, a repair inspection process, and a non-defective product. Each processing function of panel distribution processing is provided. Specific processing in the control device 14 will be described later.

[Panel processing method]
Next, the panel processing method of this embodiment is demonstrated based on the flowchart of FIG.

  At the end of the cell process in the production line, the control device 14 performs an inspection process and a repair process on the liquid crystal panel 15 and sends it to the module process. At this time, the control device 14 first operates the inspection device 3 to take out the liquid crystal panel 15 transported by each conveyor unit 2 and cause the inspection device 3 to inspect the liquid crystal panel 15 after completion of the inspection. Return to 2 (step S1).

  Next, the inspection result is taken from the inspection device 3 and stored in the memory in the control device 14 (step S2).

  Next, based on the inspection result of the inspection device 3, a defective panel is specified from among the plurality of liquid crystal panels 15 being transported through the conveyor units 2. Then, when the defective panel is positioned in the panel sending device 7 by the detection of the panel detection sensor 77A, the conveyor unit 2 in which the panel sending device 7 is incorporated is controlled to stop the movement of the defective panel (step S3). .

  Next, the stopped defective panel is sent out from the conveyor unit 2 by the panel sending device 7 (step S4). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, the conveyor unit 2 is stopped when the defective liquid crystal panel 15 is located immediately above the lifter 18, and the elevator 24 of the lifter 18 is operated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, the support pins 22 are raised and the liquid crystal panel 15 is lifted. Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the X-axis alignment mechanism portion 37 of the alignment mechanism 19 is operated, and each contact portion 44 sandwiches the liquid crystal panel 15 from both sides, whereby the X-axis direction of the liquid crystal panel 15 is reached. Positioning. Further, the Y-axis alignment mechanism portion 38 is operated, and each contact portion 55 sandwiches the liquid crystal panel 15 from both sides, thereby positioning the liquid crystal panel 15 in the Y-axis direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9D, the vertical movement unit 70 of the slide mechanism 20 operates to raise the hand 62, and the liquid crystal panel 15 is supported and lifted by the panel receivers 68 of the support bars 65. Next, as shown in FIG. 9E, the left-right moving unit 71 is operated to move the hand 62 to the correction panel transfer device 8 side. Thereafter, the hand 62 is returned to the standby position (state shown in FIG. 5).

  Next, the defective panel sent out by the slide mechanism 20 is sorted by the correction panel transfer device 8. That is, based on the inspection result of the inspection device 3, the product is divided into a correctable product and an uncorrectable product (step S5). As a result, only the correctable product is transferred to the repair panel cassette 5 on the repair device 4 side, and the uncorrectable product is transferred to the repairable panel cassette 6.

  Next, it is determined whether there is a next defective panel (step S6). When there is a next defective panel, steps S3 to S5 are repeated. If defective panels are continuous among the liquid crystal panels 15 transported by the respective conveyor units 2, all the consecutive defective panels are taken into the repair panel cassette 5, and then the repair panel cassette 5 is transferred to the repair device 4. Install. In some cases, it may be performed individually. In this case, when one defective panel is stored in the repair panel cassette 5, the repair panel cassette 5 is installed in the repair device 4 and subjected to a repair process. The repair panel cassette 5 is returned to the original position. In this case, step S6 is not performed.

  Next, the repair device 4 corrects a defect in the repairable liquid crystal panel 15 in the repair panel cassette 5 (step S7).

  Next, the liquid crystal panel 15 subjected to the repair process by the repair device 4 is transferred to the repair panel inspection device 10 by the repair panel transfer device 9 (step S8).

  Next, the repair panel inspection device 10 that has received the liquid crystal panel 15 from the repair panel transfer device 9 inspects whether or not the defect of the liquid crystal panel 15 has been corrected (step S9). The inspection result is recorded in the control device 14.

  Next, among the corrected liquid crystal panels 15 inspected by the repair panel inspection apparatus 10, defective panels whose defects could not be corrected are distributed. The defective product panel transfer device 11 transfers the defective product panel to the defective product cassette 12 and stores it, and transfers only the good product panel to the panel receiving device 13 and returns it to the conveyor unit 2 (step S10).

  In the panel receiving device 13, the liquid crystal panel 15 is received by the support rod 65 of the slide mechanism 20 and returned onto the conveyor unit 2. Next, the lifter 18 raises the support pin 22 and receives the liquid crystal panel 15 with the support pin 22. If necessary, the alignment mechanism 19 positions the liquid crystal panel 15, the lifter 18 lowers the support pins 22, and the liquid crystal panel 15 is placed on the rotating roller 17 of the conveyor unit 2. At this time, the conveyor unit 2 is stopped. Next, the conveyor unit 2 is operated to send the liquid crystal panel 15 to the module process.

  At this time, if the interval at which the liquid crystal panel 15 flows is, for example, one sheet for about 30 seconds, the other conveyor unit 2 does not need to be stopped if the liquid crystal panel 15 is returned to the conveyor unit 2 during this period. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal panel 15 is continuously conveyed to each conveyor unit 2 and the interval is less than 30 seconds, one or more conveyor units 2 on the upstream side of the panel receiving device 13 are stopped. Thus, a space for returning the repaired liquid crystal panel 15 to the production line is secured.

  As described above, defective panels generated on the production line are taken into the repair device 4 attached to the production line as needed and corrected in parallel with the processing on the production line, so that only non-defective panels are returned to the production line. Efficiency can be improved.

  Since repairable ones of the defective panels are automatically repaired and returned to the production line, the labor of manually transporting the defective panels to the repair device 4 can be omitted, and the production efficiency is improved.

  Furthermore, since only the non-defective panel flows at the end of the cell process line, it is not necessary to distribute the non-defective product and the defective product at the end, and the production efficiency is improved. In addition, it is possible to flow the panel directly to the next module step, which also improves production efficiency.

[Modification]
In the embodiment, the lifter 18, the alignment mechanism 19 and the slide mechanism 20 are integrally incorporated in the conveyor unit 2, but only the slide mechanism 20 may be incorporated in the conveyor unit 2 as shown in FIG. The lifter 18 and the alignment mechanism 19 are installed beside the frame plate 16 of the conveyor unit 2. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 15 sent out by the slide mechanism 20 is received by the lifter 18, positioned by the alignment mechanism 19, and transferred to the correction panel transfer device 8. In this case as well, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, an inline buffer device may be provided on the upstream side of the panel sending device 7 and the panel receiving device 13 in each conveyor unit 2. Thereby, even when the liquid crystal panel 15 is continuously conveyed, the liquid crystal panel 15 after repair processing can be easily returned to the conveyor unit 2 by temporarily storing the liquid crystal panel 15 in the inline buffer device. it can. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 15 after the repair process can be smoothly returned to the conveyor unit 2. As the inline buffer device, the inline buffer device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-15789 previously proposed by the present applicant can be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the alignment mechanism 19 includes the X-axis alignment mechanism unit 37 and the Y-axis alignment mechanism unit 38. However, in addition to these, a θ-axis rotation mechanism may be provided. As a result, the XYθ axis direction can be accurately positioned.

  1: Panel processing system, 2: Conveyor unit, 3: Inspection device, 4: Repair device, 5: Repair panel cassette, 6: Unrepairable panel cassette, 7: Panel delivery device, 8: Correction panel transfer device, 9: repair panel transfer device, 10: repair panel inspection device, 11: non-defective panel transfer device, 12: defective product cassette, 13: panel receiving device, 14: control device, 15: liquid crystal panel, 16: frame plate, 17: Rotating roller, 17A: Rotating shaft, 17B: Thick disk, 18: Lifter, 19: Alignment mechanism, 20: Slide mechanism, 22: Support pin, 23: Lift plate, 24: Lift, 31: Support plate, 32: guide rod, 33: lifting cylinder, 34: lifting support plate, 35: support, 37: X axis alignment mechanism, 38: Y axis alignment mechanism, 40: support plate, 41: 1 positioning pin, 42: second positioning pin, 44: contact portion, 45: support, 46: slide mechanism, 48: slider, 49: guide rail, 52: first positioning pin, 53: second positioning pin, 55 : Contact part, 56: support, 57: slide mechanism, 59: slider, 60: guide rail, 62: hand, 63: slide device, 65: support bar, 66: support plate, 68: panel support, 70: up and down Moving part, 71: Left and right moving part, 73: Up and down rail plate, 74: Up and down slider, 75: Rail, 77: Left and right rail plate, 77A: Panel detection sensor, 78: Left and right slider, 79: Rail

Claims (6)

A plurality of conveyor units that are connected and operate independently;
A panel sending apparatus that is incorporated in any of the conveyor units and sends out defective panels that have been conveyed by the conveyor units to the outside;
A correction panel transfer device for transferring the repairable product for repair processing by sorting the defective panel sent out by the panel delivery device into a correctable product and an uncorrectable product;
A repair device attached to the conveyor unit;
A repair panel inspection device for inspecting a panel that has been repaired by the repair device;
A non-defective panel transfer device that transfers the panel inspected by the repair panel inspection device into a non-defective product and a defective product;
A panel receiving device that is incorporated in any of the conveyor units, receives a good product panel from the good product panel transfer device, and returns it to the conveyor unit;
A liquid crystal panel processing system comprising a control device for controlling the same.   The control device identifies the defective panel from the panels flowing through the conveyor units, and controls the conveyor unit when the defective panel is positioned on the conveyor unit in which the panel delivery device is incorporated. 2. The liquid crystal panel processing system according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the defective panel is stopped.   The control device controls the panel sending device so as to send the defective panel from the conveyor unit while the conveyor unit in which the panel sending device is installed is stopped, and the conveyor unit in which the panel receiving device is installed 3. The liquid crystal panel processing system according to claim 1, wherein the panel receiving device is controlled so that the non-defective panel is received by the conveyor unit during a stop. 4. A panel transporting step of transporting a panel by independently operating a plurality of connected conveyor units;
A panel sending step for sending out a defective panel conveyed by each conveyor unit to the outside;
A correction panel transfer step of transferring the correctable product by distributing the defective panel sent out in the panel sending step into a correctable product and an uncorrectable product;
In the correction panel transfer step, a repair processing step of repairing the correctable product transferred to the repair device provided in the conveyor unit;
A repair panel inspection process for inspecting the panel subjected to the repair process in the repair process;
A non-defective panel transfer process in which the panel inspected in the repair panel inspection process is transferred to a non-defective product and a defective product;
A liquid crystal panel processing method, comprising: a panel receiving step which is incorporated in any of the conveyor units and receives a non-defective panel from the non-defective panel transfer device and returns the non-defective panel to the conveyor unit.   A defective panel is identified from the panels flowing through each conveyor unit, and when the defective panel is positioned on the conveyor unit in which the panel sending device is incorporated, the conveyor unit is controlled to stop the movement of the defective panel. The liquid crystal panel processing method according to claim 4, wherein:   The panel sending device is controlled so that the defective panel is sent out from the conveyor unit while the conveyor unit in which the panel sending device is installed is stopped, and the non-defective product is in operation while the conveyor unit in which the panel receiving device is installed is stopped. 6. The processing method for a liquid crystal panel according to claim 4, wherein the panel receiving device is controlled so that the panel is received by the conveyor unit.

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