KR100573775B1 - Substrate size confirmation apparatus for cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a substrate size checking apparatus for a cassette for easily checking the substrate size setting state of a cassette through a laser sensor and a reflecting plate.

Cassette substrate size checking apparatus according to the present invention, the robot arm 20 for transporting the substrate 10; A cassette 30 loaded with a substrate 10 transferred through the robot arm 20 and having a model change kit 32 that can be selectively moved according to the size change of the substrate 10; A reflection plate 40a mounted to the model change kit 32; It is mounted to the robot arm 20, and comprises a laser sensor 50 for checking the substrate size setting state of the cassette 30 by detecting the reflection of the laser irradiation toward the reflecting plate 40a. Accordingly, workability and productivity can be improved by preventing the breakage of the substrate and the interruption of the line caused by the inaccuracy of the host information.

Board, Robot Arm, Cassette, Model Change Kit, Reflector, Laser Sensor

Description

Cassette Size Checking Device for Cassette {SUBSTRATE SIZE CONFIRMATION APPARATUS FOR CASSETTE}             

1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a substrate size checking apparatus for a cassette according to the present invention;

2 (a) and 2 (b) are front views showing a reflector plate installation state of a cassette substrate size checking device according to the present invention;

3 is a block diagram showing a control process of the substrate size checking apparatus for a cassette according to the present invention.

            <Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

            10: substrate 20: robot arm

            30: cassette 32: model change kit

            40a, 40b: reflector 50: laser sensor

            60: barcode

The present invention relates to a substrate size detecting device for a cassette, and more particularly, to a substrate size checking device for a cassette so as to easily check the substrate size setting state of a cassette through a laser sensor and a reflecting plate.

In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) refers to an electronic device that changes and transmits various electrical information generated by various units into visual information by using a change in transmittance of liquid crystal according to an applied voltage.

 In the process of manufacturing such a liquid crystal display device, a substrate subjected to any one of the process treatments is loaded into a cassette, the cassette is loaded into the next process equipment, and then each substrate is transferred to a process working position using a substrate transfer device. Will do the work. As described above, in order to accurately and quickly carry out the operation of transferring the substrate in the cassette to the substrate transfer apparatus, whether or not the substrate exists in the cassette should be transmitted to the controller controlling the substrate transfer apparatus. Therefore, a sensor that can detect the presence of the substrate in the cassette is mounted, such a sensor is disclosed in the domestic patent application 2002-0033730.

On the other hand, the technology for detecting the presence of the substrate in the cassette is known in various forms.

However, the cassette having the above structure has only a sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a substrate, and may be caused by a mistake or other error by an operator in an LCD line that produces a substrate having various sizes from 15 inches to 46 inches. If the information on the cassette substrate size and the actual substrate size setting state of the cassette are different from each other, there is a problem that a collision occurs between the substrate and the cassette.

This not only damages the substrate and the cassette, but also suspends the work process, resulting in not only lowering workability and productivity, but also increasing economic cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cassette substrate size checking apparatus capable of confirming information on a substrate size setting state of a cassette.

The present invention to achieve the above object, the robot arm for transporting the substrate; A cassette loaded with the substrate transferred through the robot arm, the cassette having a model change kit that can be selectively moved according to the size change of the substrate; A reflection plate mounted to the model change kit; It is characterized in that it comprises a laser sensor mounted on the robot arm to check the substrate size setting state of the cassette by irradiating a laser toward the reflector to detect the presence or absence of the reflection.

The laser sensor is preferably operated by recognizing only the laser reflected from the reflector.

When the laser beam irradiated through the laser sensor is reflected by the reflector and the laser sensor is operated, the substrate loading operation of the robot arm proceeds, and the laser beam irradiated through the laser sensor is not reflected by the reflector plate so that the laser If the sensor does not operate, it is preferable that the substrate loading operation of the robot arm does not proceed.

The reflector is preferably mounted at the end of the model change kit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figure 1 and 2, the cassette substrate size checking apparatus according to the present invention includes a robot arm 20 for transferring the substrate 10; A cassette 30 loaded with a substrate 10 transferred through the robot arm 20 and having a model change kit 32 that can be selectively moved according to the size change of the substrate 10; A reflection plate 40a mounted to the model change kit 32; It is mounted to the robot arm 20, and comprises a laser sensor 50 for checking the substrate size setting state of the cassette 30 by detecting the reflection of the laser irradiation toward the reflecting plate 40a.

The robot arm 20 is positioned adjacent to the cassette 30 to facilitate the transfer of the substrate 10, and the structure of the robot arm 20 is variously changed within a range capable of stably transferring the substrate 10. It is possible.

Cassette 30 has a structure that can easily accommodate the substrate 10 of various sizes by the left and right movement of the model change kit 32, the host operating system (Host) using the barcode (60) cassette 30 Information on the loading status of the substrate 10 and the size of the substrate 10 being produced can be processed. For example, the upper operating system may check whether the size of the substrate 10 currently produced is 15 inches or 19 inches, and how many sheets are loaded.

The model change kit 32 is mainly moved manually, but may be automatically moved as needed. The model change kit 32 is vertically installed on the cassette 30, and a plurality of slots 33 are formed in a row so as to separate and stack the substrate 10.

In the outer region of the cassette 30, a reflecting plate 40b for detecting the presence or absence of the substrate 10 in the cassette 30 is provided. Reflector plate 40b is a substrate (through the presence or absence of the laser irradiation from the laser sensor 50, similar to the reflector plate 40a mounted on the model change kit 32 to check the substrate size setting state in the cassette 30). 10) detect the presence or absence. The sensing means for detecting the presence or absence of a substrate in the cassette 30 may be selectively used in a known form, including the reflecting plate 40b, the detailed description thereof will be omitted since the reflecting plate 40b is part of the known technology.

The laser sensor 50 operates by recognizing only the laser reflected by the reflector 40a, and the reflector 40a is made of a material having excellent heat resistance to withstand high heat as well as a special surface treatment.

When the laser irradiated through the laser sensor 50 is reflected by the reflecting plate 40a, the substrate loading operation of the robot arm 20 is performed through a control unit (not shown), and the laser irradiated through the laser sensor 50. If it is not reflected by the reflector 40a, the substrate loading operation of the robot arm 20 is not progressed through the control unit.

The reflector plate 40a is mounted at the end of the model change kit 32 and is changed in position by the movement of the model change kit 32, and the mounting position thereof varies within a range that does not interfere with the interaction with the laser sensor 50. Can be changed. The reflecting plate 40a is connected to the model change kit 32 so as to be interlocked by the movement of the model change kit 32 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The sensing process of the substrate size sensing apparatus for the cassette described above will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3.

The robot arm 20 is moved to the position of the reflecting plate 40a so that the laser beam can be irradiated to the reflecting plate 40a through the laser sensor 50 at the time when the mapping operation in the host is completed. Irradiate a laser toward (S1). Then, the laser irradiated through the laser sensor 50 is reflected by the reflector 40a to determine whether the laser sensor 50 operates (S2),

When the laser sensor 50 operates, it is determined that the substrate size information of the host and the actual substrate size setting state in the cassette 30 match, and the loading operation of the substrate 10 of the robot arm 20 proceeds (S3).

On the other hand, if the laser irradiated through the laser sensor 50 is not reflected by the reflector 40a, and thus the laser sensor 50 does not operate, the substrate size information of the host and the substrate size setting state in the actual cassette 30 may be lost. Since it is determined that there is no match, the loading operation of the substrate 10 of the robot arm 20 does not proceed (S3).

As described above, according to the present invention, accurate information on the state of the substrate size setting in the cassette can be obtained, thereby preventing breakage of the substrate and interruption of lines due to inaccurate host information.

As a result, it is possible to improve workability and productivity as well as to reduce economic costs.

Claims (4)

A robot arm for transporting the substrate; A cassette loaded with the substrate transferred through the robot arm, the cassette having a model change kit that can be selectively moved according to the size change of the substrate; A reflection plate mounted to the model change kit; And a laser sensor mounted on the robot arm and configured to check a substrate size setting state of the cassette by irradiating a laser toward the reflector to detect the reflection. The method of claim 1, And the laser sensor operates by recognizing only the laser reflected by the reflector. The method of claim 2, When the laser beam irradiated through the laser sensor is reflected by the reflector and the laser sensor is operated, the substrate loading operation of the robot arm proceeds, and the laser beam irradiated through the laser sensor is not reflected by the reflector plate so that the laser The substrate size checking apparatus for a cassette, characterized in that the substrate loading operation of the robot arm does not proceed if the sensor does not operate. The method of claim 1, And the reflecting plate is mounted at an end of the model change kit.

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