KR101254276B1 - Glass transfer apparatus and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glass conveying device and a driving method thereof, which can simplify the configuration of equipment, shorten the tact time, and increase process efficiency. The glass conveying apparatus is located in a roller conveyor for conveying sequentially introduced glasses in one direction by a rotary motion, and is located at the bottom of the roller conveyor, and lifting operation by entering and retreating to the inside, and buffering operation by raising and lowering. A lifting buffer configured to be capable of this, and a drive unit for supplying power to the lifting buffer to control the entry and retraction of the lifting buffer, and the rising and falling.

LCD, Glass, Carrier, Lifter, Buffer

Description

Glass transfer apparatus and driving method thereof

1 is a perspective view of a glass conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a state in which the lifting buffer of FIG. 1 enters inward.

3 is a plan view of a state in which the lifting buffer of FIG. 1 is retracted outward.

4 is a perspective view of the lifting buffer shown in FIG. 1.

5A to 10B are diagrams for explaining step-by-step a method of driving a glass conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS (S)

100: roller conveyor 110: side frame

111: groove 120: axis of rotation

130: roller 140: center roller

200: lifting buffer 210: bracket

211: sliding guide 220: shaft

221: sliding rail 222: support protrusion

300: drive unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass conveying apparatus, and more particularly, to a glass conveying apparatus used in a manufacturing step of a liquid crystal display device.

In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) forms a liquid crystal layer having anisotropic dielectric constant between glasses facing each other, and then adjusts the intensity of an electric field formed in the liquid crystal layer to adjust liquid crystal molecules. A display device that displays a desired image by changing an arrangement and controlling an amount of light transmitted through liquid crystal molecules.

The liquid crystal display device is manufactured only after going through several manufacturing processes. Since the manufacturing process is connected to different unit processes and the equipment for performing each unit process is different, the conveyor for transporting the glass of the liquid crystal display device to these equipments is different. That is, a conveying device must be provided.

At the end of the conveyor, the robot is used to unload the glass, which is lifted by lifters and lifters that lift the glass to make room for the robot hand to enter. A buffer is provided for loading and unloading one or more pieces of glass.

The buffer is used to stably supply the glass by stacking one or more pieces of glass one by one and stacking them in order when the speed of glass input to the conveyor and the speed of unloading from the conveyor do not match due to an error in the process due to an incorrect operation of the equipment. Function

However, the glass conveying apparatus according to the prior art has a structure in which the lifter and the buffer are separately configured at the lower part and the upper part of the conveyor, and the lifter has completed the descending after the buffer fully supports the glass so that the next glass can enter the structure. There is a problem that the complexity and the tact time is long.

Accordingly, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a glass conveying apparatus and a driving method thereof which can simplify the configuration of equipment by integrating and unifying the structure of the lifter and the buffer, which have been conventionally dualized.

Another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a glass conveying apparatus and a driving method thereof which can shorten the tact time and increase the process efficiency through such a simplified configuration.

Technical problems to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. Could be.

The glass conveying apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem is a roller conveyor for sequentially conveying the glass in the one direction by the rotational movement, located in the lower portion of the roller conveyor, enter into the inside and outward And a lifting buffer configured to enable a lifting operation by retraction, and a buffering operation by raising and lowering, and a driving unit which supplies power to the lifting buffer and controls entry and retraction operations of the lifting buffer, and raising and lowering.

Here, the roller conveyor is arranged side by side at a predetermined interval toward the one direction in which the glass is conveyed, a plurality of rotary shafts, which are positioned to face each other, fixed to the left and right sides of the rotary shaft bearing the rotatable movement, the lifting A pair of side frames having a plurality of grooves for passing the lifting buffer when the buffer is retracted outwardly, and a rotating roller fixed on the rotating shaft to sequentially move the glasses as the rotating shaft rotates It may be configured to include.

Here, the lifting buffer is a bracket that can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the bracket is positioned to face each other, the ＇ㄱ＇ 자 operating to enter or retract inwards within a predetermined range The shaft may be configured to include a plurality of support protrusions arranged in a row on an upper surface of the shaft and in contact with the glasses loaded on the roller conveyor.

Here, the sliding rail is fixed to the lower portion of the shaft, the sliding guide is formed on the upper surface of the bracket is fitted with the sliding rail.

Here, the shaft may be composed of three or more pairs.

Here, the height of the shaft may be configured to be higher than the height of the side frame.

Here, the bracket may be configured in the shape of an empty rectangular frame in the center or a rectangular plate shape in which the center is filled.

Here, when the first glass is loaded on the roller conveyor, the lifting buffer is raised from an initial position entered into the roller conveyor to raise the loaded first glass, and when the raised first glass is unloaded. It may be configured to retreat to the outside of the roller conveyor and then descend, to reenter the inside and to return to the initial position.

Here, an input space is secured between the lifting buffer and the roller conveyor while the lifting buffer raises the first glass, and the second glass may be loaded into the input space.

In the driving method of the glass conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the position of the lifting buffer located in the lower portion of the roller conveyor is set to the initial position entered into the roller conveyor, and the first glass is loaded on the roller conveyor by the rotational movement. And lifting the first glass by lifting a lifting buffer located at a lower portion of the roller conveyor at the initial position, securing a loading space on the roller conveyor, and loading a second glass into the loading space. Unloading a first glass from the roller conveyor, and when the unloading of the first glass is completed, the lifting buffer is retracted to the outside of the roller conveyor and then lowered, and then enters back to the inside to return to the initial position. Steps.

Here, the roller conveyor is arranged side by side at a predetermined interval toward the one direction in which the glass is conveyed, a plurality of rotary shafts, which are positioned to face each other, fixed to the left and right sides of the rotary shaft bearing the rotatable movement, the lifting A pair of side frames having a plurality of grooves for passing the lifting buffer when the buffer is retracted outwardly, and a rotating roller fixed on the rotating shaft to sequentially move the glasses as the rotating shaft rotates It may be configured to include.

Here, the lifting buffer is a bracket that can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the bracket is positioned to face each other, the ＇ㄱ＇ 자 operating to enter or retract inwards within a predetermined range The shaft may be configured to include a plurality of support protrusions arranged in a row on an upper surface of the shaft and in contact with the glasses loaded on the roller conveyor.

Here, when the first glass is loaded on the roller conveyor, the lifting buffer is raised from an initial position entered into the roller conveyor to raise the loaded first glass, and when the raised first glass is unloaded. It may be configured to retreat to the outside of the roller conveyor and then descend, to reenter the inside and to return to the initial position.

Here, an input space is secured between the lifting buffer and the roller conveyor while the lifting buffer raises the first glass, and the second glass may be loaded into the input space.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, a glass conveying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

1 is a perspective view of a glass conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a state in which the lifting buffer of FIG. 1 enters inward, and FIG. 3 is a state in which the lifting buffer of FIG. 1 is retracted outward. Top view of the.

1 to 3, the glass conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a roller conveyor 100, a lifting buffer 200, a driving unit 300, and the like.

The roller conveyor 100 moves the glass which is sequentially input in one direction along the horizontal plane by the rotational movement.

A pair of side frames 110 facing each other are installed at left and right sides of the roller conveyor 100, and the two side frames 110 are supported by fixing both ends of the rotation shaft 120 to enable rotational movement. A plurality of grooves 111 are provided at both sides of the side frame 110 to allow the shaft 220 of the lifting buffer 200 supporting the glass G to pass through the side frame 110 when it is retracted outward. Is formed.

A plurality of rotating shafts 120 are arranged side by side at regular intervals between the two side frames 110 in the advancing direction of the glass, that is, one direction in which the loaded glasses are sequentially conveyed.

Rollers 130 for guiding the side edges of the glass G are installed at both ends of each rotation shaft 120, and are configured to rotate together with the rotation shaft 120.

In addition, a central roller 140 supporting the lower portion of the glass G is fixed to a central portion of each rotating shaft 120, and a conveyor drive unit (not shown) for rotating the rotating shaft 120 includes a side frame ( 110) It is built inside.

The conveyor drive unit (not shown) mainly uses a motor, and in this case, includes a bearing for fixing the rotating shaft 120 while helping to smoothly rotate the rotating shaft 120.

When the rotating shaft 120 rotates under the control of a conveyor drive unit (not shown) in the roller conveyor 100 configured as described above, the bearings provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 120 rotate in a surface contact manner and at the same time The central roller 140 rotates. Accordingly, the glass G loaded on the center roller 140 is gradually moved in one direction.

The lifting buffer 200 located at the bottom of the roller conveyor 100 has a function of performing a lifting operation through in-out to the inside and the outside, and up-down to the top and bottom. By adding a buffering function through), it is configured to enable a buffering operation by raising and lowering together with a lifting operation by entering and retreating to the inside.

DI and DO in FIG. 1 indicate the entry direction and the retraction direction of the lifting buffer 200, more specifically, the shaft 220 configured on the lifting buffer 200, and DT and DD indicate the upward direction of the lifting buffer 200. And the downward direction are shown, respectively.

That is, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is possible to enter the roller conveyor 100 and retreat from the roller conveyor 100 on the left and right of the roller conveyor 100, and also to roller up and down the roller conveyor 100 It is configured to be able to ascend to the conveyor 100 and descend from the roller conveyor 100.

2 illustrates a state in which the shaft 220 of the lifting buffer 200 is moved inward by moving in the entry direction DI, and FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the shaft 220 is moved outward by moving in the retraction direction DO.

The lifting buffer 200 enters the inside of the roller conveyor 100 to ascend at an initial position of a lifting state supporting the glass G, thereby raising the glass G loaded on the roller conveyor 100, and raising When the glass G is unloaded, it retreats to the outside of the roller conveyor 100 and then descends, and then enters the inside again to return to the initial position.

When the lifting buffer 200 raises the glass G, an input space is secured between the lifting buffer 200 and the roller conveyor 100, and the next glass may be loaded into the input space to the lifting buffer 200. Buffering function is implemented.

The driving unit 300 supplies power to the lifting buffer 200 to control the entry and retraction of the lifting buffer 200, and the rising and falling operations of the lifting buffer 200.

4 is a perspective view of the lifting buffer shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the lifting buffer 200 includes a bracket 210, a shaft 220, a support protrusion 222 on the shaft 220, and the like.

The bracket 210 is configured to enable the up and down operation in the vertical direction.

The shaft 220 is positioned to face each other at four corners of the upper surface of the bracket 210, and is configured in the shape of a U-shaped so as to enter inwardly or retract outward within a predetermined range.

The sliding rail 221 is fixed to the lower portion of the shaft 220, the sliding rail 221 is fitted to the sliding guide 211 formed on the upper surface of the bracket 210 to allow the shaft 220 to move. The range in which the shaft 220 can move is determined according to the length of the sliding guide 211 formed on the bracket 210.

In the case where the size of the glass G is large, a shaft 220 paired with each other on the left and right sides is further configured in a space other than the four corners of the bracket 210, and on the bracket 210 to correspond to the shaft 220. The sliding guide 211 is further formed to move while stably supporting the glass G.

Meanwhile, although FIG. 4 illustrates a case in which the bracket 210 has a rectangular plate shape in which the center is filled, the shape of the bracket 210 is not limited thereto, and the sliding rail in the lower portion of the shaft 220, such as the rectangular square frame, has an empty center. It is possible to deform to various other shapes within the range in which the 221 is fixed to move along the sliding guide 211.

In addition, since the lifting buffer 200 must stably secure an input space for the next glass to be loaded between the lifting buffer 200 and the roller conveyor 100 while the glass G is lifted up, the height of the shaft 220 is increased. The side frame 110 is configured to be higher than the height.

A plurality of support protrusions 222 contacting the glass G loaded on the roller conveyor 100 are arranged in a line on the upper surface of the shaft 220 to support the glass G with a minimum contact area. .

As such, when the function of the lifter for raising the glass G and the function of the buffer for supporting the elevated glass G and securing a space for the robot hand to enter between the glass G and the roller conveyor 100 are combined, The progress of the next glass, which is possible only when the conventional lifter is completely lowered, can be performed immediately after the glass G rise is completed.

Hereinafter, a driving method of the glass conveying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A to 9B.

5A to 10B are diagrams for explaining step-by-step a method of driving a glass conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the position of the lifting buffer 200 located at the lower portion of the roller conveyor 100 is set to an initial position entered into the roller conveyor 100. 5A and 5B, the first glass G1 is loaded on the roller conveyor 100 by a rotational motion in a state in which the lifting buffer 200 is positioned below the roller conveyor 100.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the lifting buffer 200 moves in the upward direction DT to rise toward the roller conveyor 100 so as to lift the first glass G1 to enter a space where the robot hand can enter. Make.

In addition, the first glass G1 is lifted by the lifting buffer 200 to secure the input space of the second glass G2, and the second glass G2 is the roller conveyor 100 through the input space. Will be entered. Here, immediately after the lifting of the lifting buffer 200 is completed, it is possible to unload the first glass G1 by the robot hand, and the second glass G2 may enter the roller conveyor 100.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the robot hand lifts and unloads the first glass from the roller conveyor 100.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, as soon as the unloading of the first glass G1 is completed, the plurality of grooves 111 in which the shafts 220 of the lifting buffer 200 are formed on the side frame 110 are formed. The lifting buffer 200 moves in the retraction direction DO while passing through) to perform the retraction operation to the outside of the roller conveyor 100.

When the lifting buffer 200 descends without the retraction operation, the interference between the lifting buffer 200 and the second glass G2 may occur, and thus, the shaft of the lifting buffer 200 may move in and out between the rotation shafts 120. 220) is configured in the shape of a bezel. In addition, a plurality of grooves 111 are formed on the side frame 110 so that the shaft 220 of the lifting buffer 200 may escape to the outside of the roller conveyor 100.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the lifting buffer 200 in which the retraction operation is completed moves in the downward direction DD to descend to the lower portion of the roller conveyor 100. Then, as shown in Figs. 10A and 10B, it moves back to the entry direction DI and enters inward to return to the initial position. Thereafter, the rising operation for lifting the second glass G2 from the initial position is repeated.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand.

Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are provided so that those skilled in the art can fully understand the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The glass conveying apparatus and the driving method thereof according to the present invention made as described above can simplify the configuration of the equipment by integrating and unifying the structure of the lifter and the buffer which have been conventionally dualized.

In addition, the glass conveying apparatus and its driving method according to the present invention can shorten the tact time through such a simplified configuration to increase the process efficiency.

Claims (15)

A roller conveyor which sequentially conveys the glass to be introduced in one direction by a rotational motion; A lifting buffer positioned below the roller conveyor and configured to allow a lifting operation by entering into the inside of the roller conveyor and retreating outward of the roller conveyor, and a buffering operation by raising and lowering; And A driving unit for supplying power to the lifting buffer to control the entry and the retraction of the lifting buffer, a rise and fall, The lifting buffer, A bracket capable of raising and lowering in the vertical direction; A shaft having a shape having a four-sided upper surface of the bracket facing each other and operative to enter or retract inward within a predetermined range; And a plurality of support protrusions arranged in a row on an upper surface of the shaft and in contact with the glasses loaded on the roller conveyor. Claim 2 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 1, The roller conveyor, A plurality of rotating shafts arranged side by side at regular intervals to rotate in one direction in which the glasses are conveyed; Positioned to face each other, the left and right sides of the rotating shaft is fixed to the bearing for rotational movement, a pair of side frames are formed to pass through the lifting buffer when the lifting buffer is retracted after the lifting buffer is raised ; And A rotating roller fixed on the rotating shaft to sequentially move the glasses as the rotating shaft rotates Glass conveying apparatus comprising a. delete The method of claim 1, The sliding rail is fixed to the lower portion of the shaft, The glass conveying apparatus, characterized in that the sliding guide is formed on the upper surface of the bracket is fitted with the sliding rail. Claim 5 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 1, The shaft includes: Glass carrying apparatus characterized in that three or more pairs are configured. delete Claim 7 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 1, The bracket, A glass conveying apparatus, characterized in that the center is an empty rectangular frame shape or the center plate is filled with a rectangular plate shape. The method of claim 1, The lifting buffer, When the first glass is loaded on the roller conveyor, the roller glass is raised at an initial position entered into the roller conveyor to raise the loaded first glass. And when the raised first glass is unloaded, retracts to the outside of the roller conveyor, then descends, enters the inside again, and returns to the initial position. Claim 9 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 1, An input space is secured between the lifting buffer and the roller conveyor while the lifting buffer raises the first glass, and the second glass is loaded into the input space. Claim 10 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. Setting a position of a lifting buffer located below the roller conveyor to an initial position entered into the roller conveyor, and loading the first glass onto the roller conveyor by a rotary motion; Lifting the first glass by lifting a lifting buffer located at a lower portion of the roller conveyor from the initial position, securing an input space on the roller conveyor, and loading the second glass into the input space; Unloading the first glass from the roller conveyor; And When the unloading of the first glass is completed, the lifting buffer retreats to the outside of the roller conveyor and then descends, and then enters back to the inside to return to the initial position. Driving method of the glass conveying device comprising a. Claim 11 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 10, The roller conveyor, A plurality of rotating shafts arranged side by side at regular intervals to rotate in one direction in which the glasses are conveyed; Positioned to face each other, the left and right sides of the rotating shaft is fixed to the bearing for rotational movement, a pair of side frames are formed to pass through the lifting buffer when the lifting buffer is retracted after the lifting buffer is raised ; And Driving method of the glass conveying device comprising a. Claim 12 is abandoned in setting registration fee. The method of claim 10, The lifting buffer, A bracket capable of raising and lowering in the vertical direction; A shaft having a shape having a four-sided upper surface of the bracket facing each other and operative to enter or retract inward within a predetermined range; A plurality of support protrusions arranged in a row on an upper surface of the shaft and in contact with the glasses loaded on the roller conveyor; Driving method of the glass conveying device comprising a. Claim 13 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. The method of claim 12, The sliding rail is fixed to the lower portion of the shaft, And a sliding guide on which the sliding rail is fitted on an upper surface of the bracket. Claim 14 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 12, The lifting buffer, And when the raised first glass is unloaded, retracts to the outside of the roller conveyor, then descends, enters the inside again, and returns to the initial position. Claim 15 is abandoned in the setting registration fee payment. The method of claim 12, An input space is secured between the lifting buffer and the roller conveyor while the lifting buffer raises the first glass, and the second glass is loaded into the input space.

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