KR20150142409A - Apparatus and Method for inspection display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus to inspect a display panel comprising: a transfer unit which transfers a panel to be passed through an inspection area; a camera unit disposed on a lateral side of the transfer unit, wherein the camera unit includes an upper part camera and a lower part camera arranged to be facing each other having a panel inspection reference surface therebetween; a panel driving unit including a lifting means and a rotating means arranged on the inspection area which is in a transfer path of the transfer unit; and a camera driving unit which moves the camera unit, such that the present invention reduces take time, and provides a favorable effect in inspecting panels while not touching a top surface of the panel.

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > Apparatus and Method for Inspection Display Panel [

The present invention relates to a panel inspection apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a panel inspection apparatus and method for inspecting an edge of a panel after polishing.

The flat panel display panel is cut to the required size from the original glass. The principle of cutting the panel is that a straight line of scratches on the surface of the panel causes internal cracks, cracks, and the panel is broken.

At this time, various defects are generated during the cutting process. For example, since the edge surface is sharp, cracks or cracks may occur during the process. The sharp edges of the cut panel are subjected to a process of polishing the four sides using a grinding wheel. The polished surface is polished at an angle to the top and bottom surfaces of the panel edge.

After the polishing process, inspection of the cut surface to check whether there is any defect in the cut surface, and inspection of the abrasive surface should be carried out to determine whether the abrasive surface has been polished by a proper amount or not.

Such inspection can be performed through a panel inspection apparatus. Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2008-0044517 (published May 21, 2008, hereafter referred to as the present document) discloses a panel inspection system.

The panel inspection apparatus of this document includes a loading / unloading section for supporting the panel and polishing / inspection means for polishing or inspecting the panel. And a picker for transferring the panel of the loading part to the polishing / inspecting unit or transmitting the panel from the polishing / inspecting unit to the unloading part. The picker may include an adsorption module capable of vacuum adsorbing the panel and an alignment module capable of aligning the panel, and the like.

However, the panel inspecting apparatus having such a picker has a drawback that the panel is transported out of the conveying path of the conveyor in the adsorbed state, thereby increasing the tack time. Further, in the case of an organic light emitting diode panel, since the upper surface of the panel can not be touched, the edge of the panel is carried and carried. In this case, the panel is shaken during transportation.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2008-0044517 (published May 21, 2008)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel inspection apparatus and method capable of shortening a tact time and performing inspection of a panel without touching an upper surface of the panel.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned here can be understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera comprising: a transfer unit for transferring a panel over an inspection area; a camera disposed on a side surface of the transfer unit and including an upper camera and a lower camera disposed so as to face each other with a panel inspection reference plane interposed therebetween; And a camera driving unit for moving the camera unit. The panel driving unit includes: a panel driving unit including elevating means and rotating means disposed in the inspection area on the conveying path of the conveying unit; and a camera driving unit moving the camera unit.

The optical axis of the upper camera and the lower camera may be formed such that the optical axis is perpendicular to the panel inspection reference plane.

Preferably, the camera portion may be disposed on a side surface of the inspection region.

Preferably, the rotating means may be formed on the lifting means.

Preferably, the elevating means can move the panel in a vertical direction.

Preferably, the elevating means may move the panel to a height corresponding to the panel inspection reference surface.

Preferably, the rotating means is capable of rotating the panel with respect to the center of the panel with the vertical direction being the rotational axis direction.

Preferably, the camera driving unit horizontally moves the camera unit such that an optical axis of the upper camera and the lower camera passes through the panel.

The camera driving unit may include an x-axis stage for moving the upper camera and the lower camera in the x-axis direction, and a y-axis stage for moving the upper camera and the lower camera in the y-axis direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inspecting a panel, comprising the steps of: transferring a panel over an inspection area; aligning the panel in the inspection area; Moving the camera unit horizontally such that an optical axis of an upper camera and a lower camera disposed opposite to each other with the panel inspection reference plane therebetween passes horizontally through the panel; Inspecting the edge of the edge or short edge of the camera portion, horizontally moving the camera portion in the home position, and lowering the panel to the original position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a panel driving unit for raising and lowering a panel on a conveying path, so that an edge of a panel can be inspected through a camera unit during a conveying process of the panel, to provide.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the panel is formed on the conveying path so as to move up to the panel inspection reference plane and move in the x and y axes so that the camera portion illuminates the edge of the panel, Inspection of the panel provides an advantageous effect.

1 is a view showing a panel inspection apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a view showing a panel driving unit and a camera unit in a state in which the panel moves up to the panel inspection reference plane,
3 is a view showing a horizontally moving camera unit,
4 is a view showing a panel rotated by a rotating means,
5 is a view illustrating a panel inspection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed to be limited to ordinary or dictionary terms and the inventor should properly define the concept of the term in order to describe its own invention in the best way. The present invention should be construed in accordance with the meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

When the panel is detached from the conveyance path through the picker during the inspection process after the polishing of the panel, there is a problem in that the tack time is prolonged. In addition, in the case of the organic light emitting diode panel, since the upper surface of the organic light emitting diode panel can not be touched, the edge must be carried and transported, thereby causing the panel to shake. The apparatus and method for inspecting a panel according to an embodiment of the present invention are designed to inspect the edge of a panel on a conveyance path of a panel to fundamentally solve such a problem.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a panel inspection apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a panel driving unit and a camera unit in a state in which the panel moves up to a panel inspection reference plane. 1 and 2 clearly illustrate only the major feature parts for the purpose of a clear understanding of the present invention and as a result various variations of the illustrations are to be expected and the scope of the invention Need not be limited.

1 and 2, a panel inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a transfer unit 110, a camera unit 120, a panel drive unit 130, and a camera drive unit 140 have.

First, the transfer unit 110 may be a conveyor. An inspection area S may be provided on the conveyance path of the transfer unit 110. In the inspection area S, the edge of the panel P is inspected through the camera unit 120. The transfer unit 110 may be provided with a separate alignment unit for aligning the panel P located in the inspection area S. The panel P is transported in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig.

The camera unit 120 may be disposed on the side of the transfer unit 110. Further, the camera unit 120 may be disposed adjacent to the side surface of the inspection area S. How much the camera unit 120 is polished at the edges of the four sides of the panel P. [ The polishing surface is inspected for defects.

The camera unit 120 may include an upper camera 121 and a lower camera 122 for picking up an edge of the panel P. [ The upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122 may be disposed facing each other with the panel inspection reference plane F therebetween. At this time, separate lights may be installed in the upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122. Here, the upper camera 121 is for checking the upper surface of the edge of the panel P, and the lower camera 122 is for checking the lower surface of the edge of the panel P.

The upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122 may be arranged so that the respective optical axes (O in FIG. 3) are aligned in the vertical direction and perpendicular to the panel inspection reference plane F. FIG. It is possible to simultaneously inspect the upper and lower surfaces of the edge of the panel P through the upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122.

The panel driving unit 130 raises from the inspection area S to the panel inspection reference plane F of the panel P and the edge (long side, short side) of the panel P contacts the upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122 And serves to rotate the panel P so as to be positioned in the imaging area.

The panel driving unit 130 may be disposed on the movement path of the transfer unit 110 in correspondence with the inspection area S. [ The panel driving unit 130 may include a lifting unit 131 and a rotating unit 132.

The elevating means 131 serves to transport the panel P conveyed to the inspection region S in the vertical direction (z-axis direction) to a height corresponding to the panel inspection reference plane F. [ The elevating means 131 may include a driving module powered by hydraulic, pneumatic or motor. The lifting means 131 lifts the panel P up to the panel inspection reference plane F while supporting the lower surface of the panel P so that the upper surface of the panel P can be attracted to the panel P, So that it is not necessary to carry the edge of the wafer from the side.

The rotating means 132 may be formed on the elevating means 131. The rotating means 132 rotates in the horizontal direction in a state in which the lower surface of the panel P is directly supported. The rotating shaft of the rotating means 132 may be formed in the height direction (z-axis direction). At this time, the rotating means 132 may be formed to support the center of the panel P. As the rotating means 132 rotates the panel P, the four sides of the panel P can be inspected step by step through the camera unit 120.

The camera driving unit 140 serves to horizontally move the camera unit 120.

3 is a view showing a horizontally moving camera unit.

3, the camera driving unit 140 drives the upper and lower cameras 121 and 122 in a state in which the panel P is moved to the height corresponding to the panel inspection reference plane F by the elevating unit 131, (O in Fig. 3) of the panel P can be moved forward with respect to the x-axis direction so as to be positioned at the edge of the panel P. To this end, the camera driver 140 may be provided with an x-axis stage 141.

The camera driving unit 140 retracts the camera unit 120 with respect to the x-axis direction in the process of the edge of the panel P being rotated by the rotation unit 132 by rotating the panel P, P can be rotated and aligned, the camera unit 120 can be moved backward with respect to the x-axis direction so that the optical axis (O in Fig. 3) is positioned at the edge of the panel P. [

Meanwhile, the camera driving unit 140 may control the camera unit 120 to move horizontally in the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction) of the transfer unit 110. To this end, the camera driver 140 may be provided with a y-axis stage 142. The camera unit 120 can capture the edge of the panel P while moving in the y-axis direction by the camera driving unit 140. [

Fig. 4 is a view showing a panel rotated by the rotating means. Fig.

4, after the inspection of one of the short side Pa or the long side Pb of the panel P is completed, the edge not yet inspected is positioned in the imaging area of the camera unit 120, The rotating means 132 rotates the panel P about the center C of the panel P. [

5 is a view illustrating a panel inspection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the panel inspection method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention firstly transfers the panel P so as to pass the inspection area S (S100). At this time, the transfer unit 110 ) Can align the panel in the inspection area S.

The lifting unit 131 raises the panel P aligned to the height corresponding to the panel inspection reference plane F of the camera unit 120 in the inspection area S. S200,

The camera driving unit 140 drives the camera P such that the optical axis O of the upper camera 121 and the lower camera 122 disposed opposite to each other with the panel inspection reference plane F therebetween passes through the panel P. [ 120 are horizontally moved (S300)

Next, the rotating means 132 rotates the panel P and the camera unit 120 inspects the edge of the long side of the panel P or the edge of the short side (S400)

Next, the camera unit 120 is horizontally moved in the home position (S500)

Next, the elevating means 131 lowers the panel P to the original position (S600), and the panel P is conveyed by the conveying portion 110 along the original conveying path.

According to the panel inspection method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the edge of the panel P is inspected on the conveyance path without detaching the panel P from the conveyance path, an advantage that the tack time can be shortened have.

As described above, the panel inspection apparatus and method according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention have been specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. will be. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate and not to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments and the accompanying drawings . The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

110:
120:
130:
140:
S: Inspection area
P: Panel

Claims (10)

A conveying part for conveying the panel so as to pass the inspection area;
A camera unit disposed on a side surface of the transfer unit and including an upper camera and a lower camera disposed so as to face each other with a panel inspection reference surface in between;
A panel driving unit including elevating means and rotating means disposed in the inspection region on the conveying path of the conveying unit;
And a camera driver
And the panel inspection apparatus. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the optical axis of the upper camera and the lower camera are formed such that the optical axis is perpendicular to the panel inspection reference plane. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the camera unit is disposed on a side surface of the inspection area. The method according to claim 1,
And the rotating means is formed on the elevating means. 5. The method of claim 4,
And the elevating means moves the panel in the vertical direction. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the elevating means moves the panel to a height corresponding to the panel inspection reference surface. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the rotating means rotates the panel with respect to the center of the panel with the vertical direction being the rotational axis direction. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the camera driving unit horizontally moves the camera unit such that the optical axis of the upper camera and the lower camera passes through the panel. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the camera driving unit includes an x-axis stage for moving the upper camera and the lower camera in the x-axis direction, and a y-axis stage for moving the upper camera and the lower camera in the y-axis direction. Transferring the panel past the inspection area;
Aligning the panel in the inspection area;
Raising the panel arranged in the inspection area to a height corresponding to a panel inspection reference plane of the camera unit;
Horizontally moving the camera unit such that an optical axis of the upper camera and the lower camera disposed opposite to each other with the panel inspection reference surface therebetween passes through the panel;
Rotating the panel to inspect an edge of a long side or an edge of a short side of the panel;
Horizontally moving the camera unit in an original position;
Lowering the panel back to its original position
The method comprising the steps of:

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