KR20060077747A - Control system of stocker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system of a stocker in which two control units are simultaneously connected to one stocker and operate.

The present invention is arranged side by side with a predetermined interval, and a plurality of shelves having an input port and an output port and a cassette at the input port is placed in the shelves or the output port while being disposed and moved between the respective shelves, respectively. A first stocker having a stacker shipped from the stock; Arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, the plurality of shelves having an input port and an output port and each of the shelves are arranged and moved while putting a cassette at the input port into the shelves or storing a cassette stored in the shelf. A second stocker having a stacker shipped to the output port; An automatic transport device for storing or shipping cassettes to the first stocker and the second stocker; A first controller connected to the stockers to control both the first stocker and the second stocker; And a second controller connected to the stockers so as to control both the first stocker and the second stocker.

Stalker

Description

Stalker control system {control system of stocker}

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a typical cassette conveyance system

2 is a front view of the stocker of FIG.

3 is a plan view schematically showing the stocker of FIG.

4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a control system of a conventional stocker.

5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a control system of the stocker according to the present invention;

6 is a block diagram illustrating a connection configuration of a controller and a stocker in a normal operation.

7 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of each stocker controlled by the first control unit when the second control unit is down;

8 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of each stocker controlled by the second control unit when the first control unit is down;

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

101 ... first control unit 102 ... second control unit

300 ... Automatic Transfer Unit (AGV) 401 ... First Stocker

402 2nd stocker 411,412 Shelf

431 First Stacker 432 Second Stacker

The present invention relates to an LCD manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, to a control system of a stocker to enable two controls to be connected to one stocker at the same time, to enable efficient control of the stocker.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms.In recent years, liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electro luminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) have been developed. Various flat panel display devices have been studied, and some are already used as display devices in various devices.

Among them, LCD is the most widely used as a substitute for CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) for the use of mobile image display device because of the excellent image quality, light weight, thinness, and low power consumption, and mobile type such as monitor of notebook computer. In addition, it is being developed in various ways, such as a television for receiving and displaying broadcast signals, and a monitor of a computer.

Such a liquid crystal display includes a process of injecting and sealing a liquid crystal between the two bonded substrates, a process of testing and repairing each liquid crystal panel in which the liquid crystal is injected, and a backlight on a good liquid crystal panel. It is manufactured through the process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display module by mounting the driving circuit.

As described above, the substrate is subjected to various processes to be completed as a liquid crystal display device, and as shown in FIG. 1, an automatic transport device (not shown) is used to transport the substrate to equipment 20a and 20b performing each process. (AGV: Automatic Guided Vehicle) is used.

At this time, in order to increase the conveyance efficiency of the automatic transfer device 30, after storing the plurality of substrates in a cassette 10 that can accommodate, the automatic transfer device 30 to convey the cassette 10 do.

Accordingly, the automatic transfer device 30 moves the cassette 10 to the stocker 40 while reciprocating between the stocker 40 temporarily stored in the cassette 10 and the equipment 20a and 20b for performing each process. To each of the equipment (20a, 20b) and from each of the equipment (20a, 20b) to the stocker 40, respectively.

To this end, a rail 11 is provided at the bottom of the production line to guide the automatic transfer device 30 to move along a predetermined path.

Meanwhile, substrate processing capacity and processing time of the apparatuses 20a and 20b performing each process are different.

Therefore, when the cassette 10 is returned from one device to another device, buffering occurs.

Therefore, in order to effectively solve the buffering problem, the cassette 10 containing the substrate processed by any one device is stored in the stocker 40 and then returned to another device.

2 and 3 schematically illustrate the structure of the stocker 40, which plays the above-described role. Hereinafter, the stocker 40 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Two shelves 41 are arranged in parallel in the stocker 40, and each of the shelves 41 has a port 42 through which a cassette 10 can be received or shipped from the stocker 40. It is provided.

The port 42 is provided with an input port 42a for inserting the cassette 10 into the stocker 40 and an output port 42b for leaving the cassette 10 to the outside.

In addition, a stacker 43 is disposed between the two shelves 41, and although not illustrated, a conveyor is provided between the port 42 and the stacker 43.

Therefore, the cassette 10 received at the input port 42a moves to the stacker 43 by a conveyor, and the stacker 43 finds a position where the cassette 10 is to be stored, and then moves the shelf ( 41, the cassette 10 is stored.

Then, the cassette 10 to be shipped is moved to the conveyor by the stacker 43, and the conveyor conveys the cassette 10 to the output port 42b.

Then, the cassette 10 conveyed to the output port 42b is conveyed to the equipment 20a, 20b by the automatic transport device 30.

 On the other hand, when the stocker 40 can not automatically enter or leave the cassette 10 due to a system error or the like, a manual entry / exit port 45 that allows a worker to manually enter or exit the cassette 10. ) Is provided.

Reference numeral 47 in FIG. 3 denotes a manual guided vehicle used for manual entry and exit of the cassette 10.

Meanwhile, for convenience of description, the illustration of the manual entry and exit port is omitted in FIG. 3.

The stocker 40 having the above configuration is organically controlled by one control unit (not shown) as shown in FIG. 4.

That is, one stocker having a plurality of shelves and stackers is connected to one control unit.

The control unit receives the transfer command from the host and transfers it to the automatic transfer device control unit and the stacker.

Thus, the status of the shelves, ports, stackers, etc. in the stocker is checked to carry out a return instruction, and the host is notified of the change in the stocking status.

However, in the related art, since only one control unit is connected to one stocker, when the control unit is down, the stocker cannot but stop the operation, and thus there is a problem that production loss must occur. there was.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems and disadvantages, the present invention is provided with two control units at the same time one stocker, when one control unit is down by the other control unit of the stocker It relates to a control system of a stocker to enable driving.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is arranged side by side with a predetermined interval, a plurality of shelves having an input port and an output port and a cassette in the input port while being disposed and moved between each shelf respectively; A first stocker (Stocker) having a stacker (Stacker) wearing the shelves on the shelves or to the output port; Arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, the plurality of shelves (Shelf) having an input port and an output port and each of the shelves are placed and moved while putting the cassette at the input port on the shelves or on the shelves A second stocker having a stacker for shipping the stored cassette to the output port; An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) for storing or shipping cassettes to the first stocker and the second stocker; A first controller connected to the stockers to control both the first stocker and the second stocker; And a second controller connected to the stockers so as to control both the first stocker and the second stocker.

The control system of the stocker further includes an automatic guided vehicle controller (AGVC) for controlling the operation of the automatic transfer device.

The first stocker and the second stocker are connected to the first controller and the second controller by an RS232C communication cable and a BCR cable, respectively.

At this time, the RS232C communication cable is provided with information about the state of each port and the stacker, and the BCR cable is provided with information on the status of cassette entry and exit.

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

In addition, since the overall role and structure of the stocker has been described in the related art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a control system of a stocker according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a connection configuration of a controller and a stocker in a normal operation, and FIG. 7 is a case where the second control unit is down. Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the connection configuration of each stocker controlled by the first controller, and Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the connection configuration of each stocker controlled by the second controller when the first controller is down.

First, referring to Figure 5, the control system of the stocker according to the present invention is arranged side by side with a predetermined interval, a plurality of shelves (411) having an input port 481 and an output port 491 and each shelf ( A first stocker 401 having a first stacker 431 for placing a cassette at the input port into the shelves 411 or leaving the output port to the output port while being disposed and moved between the 411, respectively; Arranged side by side at intervals, the plurality of shelves 412 having an input port 482 and an output port 492 and the cassettes at the input port being disposed between and moving between the respective shelves 412 respectively. And a second stocker 402 having a second stacker 432 for stocking the cassettes stored on the shelves 412 or leaving the cassettes stored in the shelves 412.                     

On the other hand, the control system of the stocker of the present invention is provided with an automatic transfer device 300 for storing or shipping cassettes to the first stocker 401 and the second stocker (402).

At this time, the rail 250 is provided so that the automatic transport device 300 can move along a predetermined path, and the stocker control system according to the present invention controls the automatic transport device to control the operation of the automatic transport device 300. (351, 352) is preferably provided.

In addition, the first control unit 101 and the first stocker 401 and the second stocker (simultaneously connected to the stockers 401, 402, respectively) to control the first stocker 401 and the second stocker 402. The second controller 102 is connected to the stockers 401 and 402 simultaneously so as to control all the 402.

In this case, the control of the first stocker 401 and the second stocker 402 refers to an adjustment of the stackers 431 and 432 in the stockers 401 and 402 and the situation occurring in the stockers 401 and 402 such as a shelf state and a port state. And also to control the movement of the cassette.

The first stocker 401 and the second stocker 402 are connected to the first controller 101 and the second controller 102 by an RS232C communication cable and a BCR cable, respectively.

On the other hand, as shown, the first control unit 101 and the second control unit 102 is configured to be connected to the host (LAN) by a LAN (LAN) line.

In addition, in the first stocker 401 and the second stocker 402 of the stocker control system according to the present invention, as in the conventional stocker, a manual guided vehicle (MGV) 421, 422 is provided for each stocker ( 401 and 402.

Referring to the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are as follows.                     

5 shown in FIG. 5 shown in an RS232C and a BCR cable to share a shelf state, a port state, a stacker state, and transport information of the first stocker 401 and the second stocker 402. Connect them together.

At this time, the first controller 101 controls the first stocker 401 as the main, and at the same time, a control program for storing the state of the second stocker 402 and controlling the second stocker. Is installed.

In addition, a control program is installed in the second controller 102 to control the second stocker 402 as a main, and to store a state of the first stocker 401 and to control the first stocker. do.

In addition, in the initial setting of the stocker control system according to the present invention, the first controller 101 controls the first stocker 401, and the second controller 102 controls the second stocker 402. The controller is configured to store information of the stocker controlled by the other controller.

Since the stocker control system configured as described above stores information on the second stocker 402 stored in the second controller 102 even when the second controller 102 is down, the first controller 101 is stored in FIG. 7. As in the first control unit 101, it is possible to operate the second stocker (402).

On the contrary, when the first control unit 101 is down, since the information about the first stocker 401 stored in the first control unit 101 is stored in the second control unit 102, as shown in FIG. The first control unit 401 can be operated by the second control unit 102.                     

In addition, the automatic conveying apparatus 300 which moves along the rail 250 and conveys the cassette from each stocker 401, 402 may also be directly controlled by the first controller 101 or the second controller 102. As shown in FIG. 5, an automatic guided vehicle controller (AGVC) 351 and 352 may be separately provided to be controlled by the automatic transfer device controller.

In this case, the automatic transport device controllers 351 and 352 are configured to receive information and instructions on the stocker from the first and second controllers.

Even in such a case, when the automatic transport apparatus 300 is controlled by sending a signal to the automatic transport apparatus controllers 351 and 352, and when one controller is down, the other controller sends data to the automatic transport apparatus and sends the automatic transport apparatus. By controlling, the conveyance work will be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified by those skilled in the art as can be seen from the appended claims, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

The effect of the stocker control system according to the present invention described above is as follows.

It has two stockers and two controllers, and the one side stocker is configured such that one controller controls the other stocker and the other controller while the information of one stocker is stored in the other controller and the information of the other stocker is stored in the one controller. Even when one control unit is down, the other control unit can control the stocker in charge of the down control unit, thereby enabling the operation of the line without loss of production.

Claims (4)

Arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, the plurality of shelves (Shelf) having an input port and an output port and a cassette at the input port is placed in the shelves while being disposed and moved between the respective shelves, or A first stocker having a stacker shipped to the output port; Arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, the plurality of shelves having an input port and an output port and each of the shelves are arranged and moved while putting a cassette at the input port into the shelves or storing a cassette stored in the shelf. A second stocker having a stacker shipped to the output port; An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) for storing or shipping cassettes to the first stocker and the second stocker; A first controller connected to the stockers to control both the first stocker and the second stocker; And a second controller connected to the stockers so as to control both the first stocker and the second stocker. The method of claim 1, The control system of the stocker, The control system of the stocker further comprises an automatic guided vehicle controller (AGVC) for controlling the operation of the automatic transfer device. The method of claim 1, The first stocker and the second stocker are connected to the first control unit and the second control unit, the control system of the stocker, characterized in that the RS232C communication cable and the BCR cable, respectively. The method of claim 3, wherein Through the RS232C communication cable is provided with information about the state of each port and the stacker, The control system of the stocker, characterized in that via the BCR cable to receive information about the cassette in and out status.

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