KR100650273B1 - Inspecting apparatus of liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for inspecting an LCD panel is provided to perform the replacement work of a worktable stably and promptly, by transferring the worktable to the outside of a main body of the apparatus and then executing the replacement work of the worktable. An LCD panel supply part(186) is configured to supply an LCD panel to be inspected into a main body(102). An inspection part(110) loads and inspects the LCD panel. A panel carrier transfers the LCD panel between the LCD panel supply part and the inspection part. The inspection part includes an alignment unit having a transfer frame, a backlight unit(124) installed on the transfer frame of the alignment unit, a worktable(122) disposed at the front of the backlight unit, and a first sliding member. The first sliding member slides the worktable to the outside of the main body for replacement of the work table.

Description

Liquid Crystal Display Panel Inspection Equipment {INSPECTING APPARATUS OF LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY PANEL}

1 and 2A are views for explaining the configuration of a liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2B is a view showing a state in which a liquid crystal display panel is pulled out of the main body in the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 and 4 show the inspection stage with the moving plate moved to the position for work table replacement;

5 and 6 are views for explaining the LM guide portion of the inspection stage;

7 is a view showing an inspection stage with a work table moved to a loading position for taking over a liquid crystal display panel;

8 is a view showing a state in which the backlight unit is drawn out of the main body;

9 is a view showing a modified example of the first slide member for pulling out the work table to the main body side.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

102: main body

104: inclined surface portion

110: inspection unit

112: probe unit

120: inspection stage

122: work table

124: backlight unit

126: alignment unit

130: first slide member

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment that can provide a quick and safe replacement operation and elimination of cumbersome work due to work table replacement.

In general, the liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), which is the flagship product of flat panel displays, has rapidly progressed in size and high resolution due to mass production technology and achievements in research and development. It is also being developed as an application product and gradually replaces existing CRT (cathode ray tube) products, and its portion in the display industry is gradually increasing. In today's information society, displays are becoming more important as a visual information transmission medium. In particular, as the light, thin, short, and small trends of all electronic products, low power consumption, thinness, light weight, high image quality, and portability are important. It is getting higher.

As liquid crystal displays are not only capable of satisfying these conditions of flat panel displays but also mass-produced displays, various new products are being created rapidly. It is emerging as a next-generation flagship technology.

Such a liquid crystal display device performs a lighting test at the final stage of the manufacturing line, which is performed by using a probe unit in a specific inspection facility to inspect the disconnection of each data line and gate line of the liquid crystal display panel, color inspection, and visual inspection using a microscope. We carry out.

Meanwhile, liquid crystal displays are currently provided in various sizes, such as 15 inches, 17 inches, 18.1 inches, 19 inches, and the like, and inspection equipment for inspecting all of these various sizes of liquid crystal displays has already been provided. However, in order to inspect the liquid crystal display devices of various sizes in one device, structural changes in the equipment due to the size change of the liquid crystal display device are inevitable.

In particular, when the size of the liquid crystal display to be inspected is changed, the work table on which the liquid crystal display is placed should be replaced accordingly. The existing work table replacement is performed by separating and replacing the work table from the work stage located inside the equipment at the front of the inspection equipment. This work table replacement method has the following problems. First, there is a hassle that the work to remove the probe unit installed on the base plate of the front of the equipment must be preceded. Second, due to the increase in the weight of the work table due to the larger size of the liquid crystal display device, there is a limit in replacing the work table located inside the device in front of the inspection device. Third, when the work table is accidentally dropped by the operator during the replacement work, the peripheral device may be damaged. As such, there have been many difficulties in replacing the work table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus capable of eliminating troublesome work due to work table replacement and faster and safer replacement work.

The liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment of the present invention for achieving the above object has a first slide member that allows the work table to be pulled out of the main body in order to provide the convenience of replacement of the work table loaded with the liquid crystal display panel. There is a characteristic.

The liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment of the present invention has an inspection portion for inspecting the liquid crystal display panel by loading the liquid crystal display panel supplied from the liquid crystal display panel supply portion. The inspection unit includes an alignment unit having a moving frame which is rotated in the Z-axis direction along with the X-axis, Y-axis horizontal movement and Z-axis vertical movement, and a workpiece disposed in front of the moving frame and mounted on a front surface thereof for inspection. A table and a first slide member for providing a slide movement from a loading position for taking over the liquid crystal display panel in front of the backlight to a replacement position for replacing the work table outside of the main body case.

According to one embodiment, the first slide member may be provided on the moving frame may include an LM guide portion for guiding the slide movement of the work table.

According to one embodiment, the first slide member is separated from the moving plate, the LM guide portion installed in the X-axis direction at the top and bottom of the alignment unit, the moving plate moved in the X-axis direction along the LM guide portion It may be provided with a docking plate, possibly seated and on which the work table is mounted.

According to an embodiment, the first slide member may include a clamp for preventing any movement of the movable plate while the work table is moved to the loading position, and stoppers for limiting the withdrawal / insertion distance of the movable plate. And it may be provided with a buffer member for mitigating the impact applied to the moving plate is stopped by the stoppers.

According to one embodiment, the docking plate may be docked to the moving frame by a docking member. The docking member may include position pins installed at a front surface of the movable frame and inserted into and coupled to each of the through holes formed at an edge of the docking plate, and pusher mechanisms for pressing the docking plate toward the movable frame.

According to one embodiment, the first slide member may be provided with a stopper for limiting the forward movement of the docking plate when the docking plate is docked to the moving frame to move forward with the moving frame.

According to one embodiment, the backlight unit is slidably moved laterally from the moving frame by the second slide member may be drawn out of the main body.

For example, embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the embodiments described below. This embodiment is provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shape of the elements in the drawings and the like are exaggerated to emphasize a clearer description.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are denoted together for components that perform the same function.

1 and 2A are views for explaining the configuration of a liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2B is a view showing a state in which the liquid crystal display panel is drawn out of the main body in the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 2B, the liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention uses the probe unit 112 to check the disconnection and color of each of the data lines and the gate lines of the liquid crystal display panel 10, a color inspection, a microscope, and the like. Equipment for visual inspection using

The basic intention of the present invention is to provide convenience of replacement of the work table 122 into which the liquid crystal display panel 10 is loaded. In order to achieve this, the inspection equipment 100 of the present invention includes a work table 122 having a main body ( 102) It is characterized by having a slide means that can be pulled out.

Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description and make it easier to understand, the left and right directions and the inclined up and down directions in a plane parallel to the liquid crystal display panel arranged obliquely to the inspection equipment are referred to as the X direction and the Y direction, and the liquid crystal display panel The direction perpendicular to is called the Z direction.

The liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment 100 of the present invention has a main body 102 having an inclined surface portion 104 inclined at an approximately 60 degree angle on the front surface. The main body 102 is formed of a frame in the form of a square box. The inclined surface portion 104 of the main body 102 has a larger rectangular opening than the liquid crystal display panel 10, and a part of the inclined surface portion 104 is open to the side so that the work table 122 can be drawn out. In the main body 102, a supply unit 186 to which the liquid crystal display panel 10 to be inspected is supplied is disposed at an upper portion, and an inspection unit 110 is disposed at a lower portion (under the supply unit).

In front of the supply unit 186 and the inspection unit 110, a panel carrier 180 including at least two conveying devices for transporting the liquid crystal display panel 10 between the supply unit 186 and the inspection unit 110 is disposed. The inclined surface portion 104 of the main body 102 checks an abnormal part of the liquid crystal display panel 10 loaded on the work table 122 or is provided in the probe block 114 of the probe unit 112 at the initial operation. Microscope unit 170 for aligning the probes (not shown) and the pad of the liquid crystal display panel 10 is provided, the microscope unit 170 is moved horizontally or vertically by the microscope transfer member 172 Is installed.

The inspection unit 110 loads the liquid crystal display panel 10 supplied to the supply unit 186 and illuminates a light source (backlight unit) 124 provided at the rear to cause stains or liquid crystals of the liquid crystal display panel 10 generated in the manufacturing process. The disconnection state and color of the data line and the gate line of the display panel 10 are inspected. In addition, the inspection unit 110 is largely divided into the probe unit 112 and the inspection stage 120.

First, the probe unit 112 of the inspection unit 110 is disposed on an opening formed in the inclined surface portion 104 of the main body 102 and has a probe base 116 on which a plurality of probe blocks 114 are mounted.

In addition, the inspection stage 120 of the inspection unit 110 receives the liquid crystal display panel 10 in a state of inclination substantially parallel to the inclined surface portion 104 of the main body, and attaches the liquid crystal display panel 10 to the probe unit 112. Move it. Here, the inspection stage 120 has a function of chucking the liquid crystal display panel 10, a function of moving the liquid crystal display panel 10 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, and an angle around the Z axis line. It has a function etc. to rotate.

3 and 4 show the inspection stage with the moving plate moved to the position for work table replacement.

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the inspection stage 120 includes a work table 122 that releasably adsorbs the liquid crystal display panel 10, and a liquid crystal display panel 10 placed on the work table 122. ) An alignment unit having a backlight unit 124 which is lit to illuminate from behind, a moving frame 128 which moves the work table 122 in the X, Y and Z directions and is rotated at an angle around the Z axis 126 and a first slide member 130 which allows the work table 122 to be pulled out to the side of the main body 102 for the replacement work of the work table 122.

For example, when the size of the liquid crystal display panel 10 to be inspected is changed, the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment 100 replaces the work table 122 with ones that match the size. In the inspection equipment of the present invention, the work of the work table 122 is performed outside the main body 102 by the first slide member 130.

Here, the first slide member 130 is largely the LM guide portion 136 installed on the upper and lower ends of the alignment unit 126, the moving plate 132 is moved in the X-axis direction along the LM guide portion 136 And a docking plate 134 detachably seated on the movable plate 132.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the LM guide unit 136 includes a lower bracket 140 fixed to the alignment unit 126, a first stage LM rail 142 installed on the lower bracket 140, The first stage LM blocks 143 which are moved along the first stage LM rail 142, the intermediate plate 144 supported by the first stage LM blocks 143, and two which are installed on the upper surface of the intermediate plate 144. It has a stage LM rail 145, two stage LM blocks 146 moving along the two stage LM rail 145 and an upper plate 147 supported by the LM blocks 146. The top plate 147 is fixed to the bottom of the moving plate 132.

Looking at the slide movement in the LM guide unit 136 configured as described above are as follows. When the user grasps the handle 133 of the moving plate 132 and pulls it toward the outside of the main body, first, the two-stage LM blocks 146 connected to the upper plate 147 move along the two-stage LM rails 145. do. Then, the first stage LM blocks 143 connected to the intermediate plate 144 are moved along the first stage LM rail 142 so that the movable plate 132 is horizontally moved laterally of the main body 102 so that the main body 102 is moved. The work table 122 is pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the first slide member 130 may include first stoppers 150 for limiting the withdrawal distance of the moving plate 132 and second stoppers 152 for limiting the withdrawal distance. Have The stoppers 150 and 152 are installed on the lower bracket 140, the intermediate plate 144, and the upper plate 147. In addition, shock absorbers 154, which are shock absorbers 154, are provided in the first stopper 150 and the second stopper 152 installed on the lower bracket 140 to cushion the shock when the moving plate 132 stops. Is installed. If the user pushes or pulls the moving plate 132 excessively, the shock is alleviated by the shock absorbers 154, thereby minimizing the shock generated in the process of stopping the moving plate.

In addition, the first slide member 130 has a clamp member 156. The clamp member 156 is inserted into the fixed end 156a installed in the lower bracket 140, the moving end 156b installed in the moving plate 132, and the screw hole 157 formed in the fixed end and the moving end, It consists of a fastening bolt (156c) for fastening the fixed end. That is, when the operator pushes the moving plate 132 into the main body 102 after replacing the work table 122 and fastens the moving end 156b and the fixed end 156a with the fastening bolt 156c, the moving plate Any movement of 132 can be prevented in advance.

The work table 122 is mounted on the docking plate 134. In addition, the docking plate 134 is installed to be detachable or coupled from the moving plate 132.

More specifically, in the replacement step of the work table 122, the docking plate 134 is coupled to the moving plate 132, thereby moving by the moving plate 132 installed to be movable on the first slide member 130. The docking plate 134 is positioned to the outside of the main body 102, and the work table 122 mounted on the front surface of the docking plate 134 is replaced.

Meanwhile, in the inspecting step of the liquid crystal display panel 10, the moving plate 132 is positioned in the inspection unit 110 region, and the alignment plate 134 is moved in the Z-axis direction so that the docking plate 134 moves in the moving frame 128. ) To be separated from.

In addition, the moving frame 128 and the docked docking plate 134 move the X, Y, Z and Z-axis directions so that the liquid crystal display panel 10 placed on the work table 122 disposed on the front surface is aligned at an optimal inspection position. The docking plate 134 docked on the alignment unit 126 is moved together by the movement of the alignment unit 126 rotated.

5 and 7, the docking between the docking plate 134 and the moving frame 128 moves six position pins 160 and the docking plate 134 installed on the moving frame 128 to the moving frame 128. It is made by the docking means which consists of four pusher mechanisms 162 which push to the side. The pusher mechanism 162 includes a hydraulic cylinder 164 and a pressing piece 166 provided at the end of the hydraulic cylinder rod 165. An opening 167 is formed between the docking plate 134 and the moving plate 132 through which the pressing piece 166 can pass, so that the pressing piece 166 of the pusher mechanism 162 moves the docking plate 134. When docked to frame 128, it is positioned forward of docking plate 134 through opening 167. In this state, the pressing piece 166 is rotated by 90 degrees, the pressing of the front surface of the docking plate 134 by the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 164, such a state is shown in FIG.

That is, the docking process between the docking plate 134 and the moving frame 128 is as follows. First, by the Z-axis movement of the test stage 120, the moving frame 128 of the test stage 120 is moved forward in the z-axis direction, the position pins 160 provided on the moving frame 128 The through holes 161 formed at the edge of the docking plate 134 are inserted into and coupled to each other. At this time, the pressing piece 166 of the pusher mechanism is positioned in front of the docking plate 134 through the opening 167, the pressing piece 166 is rotated 90 degrees by the rotation operation, the hydraulic cylinder 164 By pressing the front of the docking plate 134 by the operation of the stable docking is made.

On the other hand, the front and left of the moving plate 132 is provided with a stopper 168 for limiting the forward movement distance of the docking plate. This stopper 168 limits excessive advancement of the docking plate 134 to prevent a collision between the work table 122 and the probe unit 112.

Looking at the movement of the docking plate 134 in more detail, the docking plate 134 is docked with the moving frame 128 by the movement of the alignment unit 126 of the inspection unit 112, and then the alignment unit 126 It is separated from the moving plate 132 by z-axis movement. The work table 122 installed on the front side of the docking plate 134 is moved along the z-axis along with the docking plate 134, and the liquid crystal display panel 10 placed on the work table 122 is located close to the probe unit 112. Is moved. A probe (not shown) installed on the bottom of the probe unit 112 is in contact with a pad of the liquid crystal display panel 10. In this case, when the docking plate 134 moves excessively in the z-axis direction, the probe unit 112 The probe and the pad of the liquid crystal display panel 10 may collide with each other. However, in the present invention, excessive movement of the probe and the liquid crystal display panel 10 may be prevented by the stopper 168.

8 is a view illustrating a state in which the backlight unit is drawn out to the side of the main body.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inspection equipment 100 of the present invention may pull out the backlight unit 124 to the side of the main body 102 for operations such as inspection of the backlight unit 124 and lamp replacement of the backlight unit. The second slide member 190 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the second slide member 190 includes an LM guide part installed on the moving frame 128 of the alignment unit 126, and the backlight unit 124 includes the LM guide part. Accordingly, the body 102 is drawn out to the side surface.

9 is a view showing a modification of the first slide member 130 ′ for pulling the work table 122 out to the side of the main body 102.

 As shown in FIG. 9, the first slide member 130 ′ is installed on the moving frame 128 of the alignment unit 126. The first slide member 130 ′ includes a moving plate 132 ′ on which the work table 122 is mounted, and an LM guide part 136 for guiding the moving plate 132 ′ to slide on the moving frame 128. It is provided. That is, when the first slide member 130 ′ is installed on the moving frame 128 of the alignment unit 126 as shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the docking plate, the docking member, and the like as in the previous embodiment may be omitted. Will be.

Meanwhile, the present invention may be variously modified and may take various forms in the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment having the above configuration. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the specific forms referred to in the above description, but rather includes all modifications, equivalents and substitutions within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood to do.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment of the present invention, since the work table is replaced outside the main body by the first slide member, it is possible to omit troublesome work due to the work table replacement and to perform a quick and safe replacement work. Has an effect.

In addition, since the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment can perform the inspection of the backlight unit outside the main body by the second slide member, the liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment has a special effect of making the backlight unit inspection more quickly.

Claims (12)

In liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment: A main body case; A liquid crystal display panel supply unit for supplying a liquid crystal display panel to be inspected in the main body case; An inspection unit for inspecting the liquid crystal display panel by loading the liquid crystal display panel supplied from the liquid crystal display panel supply unit; A panel carrier for conveying the liquid crystal display panel between the liquid crystal display panel supply unit and the inspection unit; The inspection unit An alignment unit having an X-axis, a Y-axis horizontal movement, and a Z-axis vertical movement and a moving frame rotated in the Z-axis direction; A backlight unit installed in the moving frame; A work table disposed in front of the backlight unit and having a liquid crystal display panel mounted thereon for inspection; And And the work table comprises a first slide member for providing a slide movement from a loading position for taking over the liquid crystal display panel in front of the backlight to a replacement position for replacing the work table outside of the main body case. LCD panel inspection equipment. The method of claim 1, The first slide member An LM guide part installed at the moving frame to guide the slide movement of the work table; The LM guide unit includes at least two LM guides that are expanded or folded in multiple stages. The method of claim 1, The first slide member An LM guide part installed at an upper end and a lower end of the alignment unit in an X-axis direction; A moving plate moved along the LM guide part in the X-axis direction; And a docking plate detachably seated from said moving plate and on which a work table is mounted on a front surface thereof. The method of claim 3, The first slide member And a clamp for preventing any movement of the moving plate while the work table is moved to the loading position. The method of claim 3, The first slide member First stoppers for limiting the withdrawal distance of the moving plate and second stoppers for limiting the withdrawal distance; And a buffer member for mitigating an impact generated when the moving plate is stopped by the first stoppers or the second stoppers. The method of claim 3, The first slide member And a docking member for docking the docking plate to the moving frame. The method of claim 6, The docking member And position pins installed on a front surface of the moving frame and inserted into and coupled to each of the through holes formed at an edge of the docking plate. The method of claim 7, wherein The docking member And a pusher mechanism for pushing the docking plate inserted into the through hole toward the moving frame, wherein the position pins are inserted into the through hole. The method of claim 6, The first slide member And a stopper disposed on the moving plate and limiting the forward movement of the docking plate when the docking plate is docked to the moving frame and moved forward with the moving frame. The method of claim 1, LCD panel inspection equipment And a second slide member for allowing slide movement of the backlight unit laterally from the moving frame. In liquid crystal display panel inspection equipment: Body case; And An inspection unit for loading the liquid crystal display panel to inspect the liquid crystal display panel; The inspection unit An alignment unit having a moving frame; A backlight unit installed in the moving frame; A work table disposed in front of the backlight unit and having a liquid crystal display panel mounted thereon for inspection; And And the work table comprises a first slide member for providing a slide movement from a loading position for taking over the liquid crystal display panel in front of the backlight to a replacement position for replacing the work table outside of the main body case. LCD panel inspection equipment. The method of claim 11, The first slide member An LM guide part installed at an upper end and a lower end of the alignment unit in an X-axis direction; A moving plate moved along the LM guide part in the X-axis direction; And a docking plate detachably seated from said moving plate and on which a work table is mounted on a front surface thereof.

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