WO2015080136A1

WO2015080136A1 - Device and method for conveying and inspecting panels having optical members applied thereto

Info

Publication number: WO2015080136A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/081193
Authority: WO
Inventors: 達也土岡
Original assignee: 住友化学株式会社
Priority date: 2013-11-28
Filing date: 2014-11-26
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Also published as: JP2015105832A; TW201527194A

Abstract

This device (60) for conveying and inspecting panels having optical members applied thereto, which performs optical inspections on said panels (P12) while conveying said panels (P12) in a given direction, has an upstream-side conveyor (61) that conveys the panels to an optical-inspection position (K) and a downstream-side conveyor (62) that conveys the panels from immediately after said optical-inspection position (K). The upstream-side conveyor (61) is a roller conveyor (61A), and the downstream-side conveyor (62) is a flat belt conveyor (62A) in which the conveyance surface on which the panels are placed is a flat belt (71).

Description

Transport inspection device and transport inspection method for optical member bonding panel

The present invention relates to a conveyance inspection device and a conveyance inspection method for an optical member bonding panel that performs optical inspection while conveying the optical member bonding panel.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-246551 filed in Japan on November 28, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Conventionally, the manufacturing apparatus of patent document 1 or patent document 2 is known as a manufacturing apparatus which manufactures optical member bonding panels, such as a liquid crystal display. An optical member bonding panel is obtained by bonding an optical member such as a polarizing film to an optical display component such as a liquid crystal panel. On the downstream side of the bonding device that bonds the optical display component and the optical member, an optical inspection device that performs an overview inspection of the optical member bonding panel is provided while the optical member bonding panel is conveyed. In the optical inspection device, light is irradiated from one side of the optical member bonding panel, and the transmitted light or reflected light is imaged. The display component itself is inspected for defects (such as alignment defects).

In the above prior art, in order to detect a defect in a liquid crystal part such as a TFT of a liquid crystal panel or a bonding failure due to foreign matter entering between the polarizing film and the liquid crystal panel, a light source and An inspection optical system (automatic inspection apparatus) having a line CCD (line sensor) is installed. The inspection optical system scans the inspection surface of the liquid crystal panel, and performs imaging and image processing to detect product defects such as defects and poor bonding.

In this inspection process, product defects are often detected while the liquid crystal panel is conveyed by a roller conveyor, but the liquid crystal substrate is a hard glass plate and the rollers of the roller conveyor are spaced at an appropriate interval. Due to the arrangement, when the front end of the liquid crystal panel is transferred onto the roller, the front end of the liquid crystal panel hits the roller and vibration is likely to occur. As a result, there is a problem that a false detection of defect detection due to light leakage due to vibration is likely to occur particularly in an inspection unit that uses transmitted light. On the other hand, it is conceivable to reduce the transport speed of the liquid crystal panel in order to suppress the occurrence of the vibration, but in this case, there is a problem that the efficiency of the inspection process is lowered.

Also, a conveyance inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 3 is known as one that utilizes conveyance means other than a roller conveyor. In this transport inspection apparatus, a rotating frame transport conveyor is used as a transport means for a panel (panel to be inspected such as a liquid crystal panel). This rotating frame type conveyor conveys a pair of rotating frames in a direction orthogonal to the panel conveying direction, and engages the rotating frames so that both ends of the connecting plate can move along the rotating frames. It has been made. The rotating frame type conveyor conveys the panel gripped by the gripping body by attaching a gripping body for gripping the leading edge of the panel to the connecting plate and moving the connecting plate along the rotating frame by the wire drive mechanism. Transport in the direction.

Japanese Patent No. 4079716 Japanese Patent No. 4307510 JP 2001-305062 A

By the way, when performing an optical inspection while transporting a liquid crystal panel with a roller conveyor, as described above, there is a problem that vibration is generated when the front end of the panel is transferred onto the roller, thereby causing false detection of defect detection. . In addition, when a rotating frame type conveyor as shown in Patent Document 3 is used as a conveyor means other than the roller conveyor, the liquid crystal panel support state is likely to be unstable, so that defects are detected during optical inspection. There is a risk that false information will be generated easily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when performing an optical inspection while transporting the optical member bonding panel, it suppresses false detection of defect detection due to vibration of the optical member bonding panel, and performs an efficient inspection. It aims at providing the conveyance inspection apparatus and conveyance inspection method of an optical member bonding panel which can be implemented.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the conveyance inspection device and conveyance inspection method for the optical member bonding panel of the present invention have the following configurations.
[1] A transport inspection device for an optical member bonding panel that inspects the optical member bonding panel by an optical inspection device arranged in the middle of the transport path while transporting the optical member bonding panel in a certain direction by the transport device. The upstream conveying conveyor that conveys the optical member bonding panel to the optical inspection position by the optical inspection device, and the downstream conveying that conveys the optical member bonding panel immediately after the optical inspection position An optical member bonding panel characterized in that at least the downstream conveying conveyor is composed of a flat belt conveyor in which a conveying surface on which the optical member bonding panel is placed is constituted by a flat flat belt. Transport inspection device.

[2] The transport inspection device for an optical member bonding panel according to [1], wherein the upstream transport conveyor is a roller conveyor.

[3] The upstream conveyor is composed of a flat belt conveyor similar to the downstream conveyor, and at least in the layout area of the flat belt conveyor constituting the upstream conveyor, the optical inspection by the optical inspection device is possible. The transport inspection device for an optical member bonding panel according to [1], wherein a space is secured.

[4] A transport inspection method for an optical member bonding panel, in which the optical member bonding panel is inspected by an optical inspection device arranged in the middle of the transport path while transporting the optical member bonding panel in a certain direction, The conveyance process of an optical member bonding panel conveys the said optical member bonding panel from the upstream conveyance process which conveys the said optical member bonding panel to the optical inspection position by the said optical inspection apparatus, and immediately after the said optical inspection position. A downstream conveying step, and at least the downstream conveying step is a conveying step by a flat belt conveyor in which a conveying surface on which the optical member bonding panel is placed is configured by a flat flat belt. The conveyance inspection method of the optical member bonding panel to do. *

The term “immediately after the optical inspection position” described in the present invention refers to a position on the downstream side in the transport direction of the optical member bonding panel from the optical inspection position and in the vicinity of the optical inspection position.

According to the present invention, immediately after the front end of the optical member bonding panel passes through the optical inspection position, the optical member bonding panel is immediately connected to the flat belt, and while the optical member bonding panel is conveyed by the flat belt, vibration due to the connection is caused. Almost disappears. Thereby, like the case where a roller conveyor is used, it is suppressed that a defect occurs by generating a vibration whenever the front end of an optical member bonding panel transfers on a roller.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the optical member bonding panel containing the conveyance inspection apparatus of the optical member bonding panel which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is A arrow directional view of FIG. It is a top view of a liquid crystal panel. It is sectional drawing of a polarizing film sheet. It is a side view which shows typically the conveyance inspection apparatus of embodiment. It is a top view which shows typically the conveyance inspection apparatus of embodiment. It is a side view which shows the structure of the flat belt conveyor in a conveyance inspection apparatus. It is a side view which shows an optical inspection apparatus typically.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In all the following drawings, the dimensions and ratios of the respective components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see. In the following description and drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

In the following description, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set as necessary, and the positional relationship of each member will be described with reference to this XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. In the present embodiment, the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel, which is an optical display component, is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction (the width direction of the liquid crystal panel) in the plane of the liquid crystal panel is the Y direction, X direction, and Y direction. The direction orthogonal to the Z direction is taken as the Z direction. Here, the X direction and the Y direction are in the horizontal plane, and the Z direction is the vertical direction (vertical direction).

Hereinafter, the film bonding system 1 which is a manufacturing apparatus of the optical member bonding panel containing the conveyance inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.
Drawing 1 is a figure showing the schematic structure of film pasting system 1 of this embodiment.
The film bonding system 1 bonds a film-shaped optical member such as a polarizing film, an antireflection film, or a light diffusion film to a panel-shaped optical display component such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

In addition, in this embodiment, liquid crystal panel P is illustrated as said optical display component, and double-sided bonding panel P12 formed by bonding the bonding sheet | seat F5 on both front and back surfaces of liquid crystal panel P is illustrated as an optical member bonding panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the size of the liquid crystal panel P is preferably 30 inches (457 mm × 609 mm) or more, and usually 100 inches (1524 mm × 2032 mm or less.) Further, the thickness of the liquid crystal panel P is usually 1.2 mm or less. And usually 0.5 mm or more.

As shown in FIG. 1, the film bonding system 1 of this embodiment is provided as one process of the production line of liquid crystal panel P. As shown in FIG. Each part of the film bonding system 1 is comprehensively controlled by the control part 40 as an electronic control apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the film bonding system 1 of this embodiment reverses 90 degree | times of the attitude | position of the liquid crystal panel P with respect to the conveyance direction of the liquid crystal panel P on the way. The film bonding system 1 bonds the polarizing film (optical member F1 shown in FIG. 4) with the polarization axes in directions orthogonal to each other on the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel P.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid crystal panel P as viewed from the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer P3. The liquid crystal panel P includes a first substrate P1 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, a second substrate P2 having a rectangular shape smaller than the first substrate P1, which is disposed opposite to the first substrate P1, and a first substrate P1. A liquid crystal layer P3 enclosed between the substrate P1 and the second substrate P2 is provided. The liquid crystal panel P has a rectangular shape along the outer shape of the first substrate P1 having a long side and a short side in plan view, and a region that fits inside the outer periphery of the liquid crystal layer P3 in plan view is defined as a display region P4.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical sheet F including the optical member F1 bonded to the liquid crystal panel P. In FIG. 4, hatching of each layer in the cross-sectional view is omitted for convenience.
As shown in FIG. 4, the optical sheet F is optically formed through the film-like optical member F1, the adhesive layer F2 provided on one surface (the upper surface in FIG. 4) of the optical member F1, and the adhesive layer F2. It has the separator F3 laminated | stacked on one side of the member F1 so that isolation | separation was possible, and the surface protection film F4 laminated | stacked on the other surface (lower surface in FIG. 4) of the optical member F1. The optical member F1 functions as a polarizing plate and is bonded over the entire display area P4 of the liquid crystal panel P and the peripheral area.

The optical member F1 is bonded to the liquid crystal panel P via the adhesive layer F2 in a state where the separator F3 is separated while leaving the adhesive layer F2 on one surface thereof. Hereinafter, the part remove | excluding the separator F3 from the optical sheet F is called the bonding sheet | seat F5.

The separator F3 protects the adhesive layer F2 and the optical member F1 until it is separated from the adhesive layer F2. The surface protective film F4 is bonded to the liquid crystal panel P together with the optical member F1. The surface protective film F4 is disposed on the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel P with respect to the optical member F1, protects the optical member F1, and is separated from the optical member F1 at a predetermined timing. The optical sheet F may be configured not to include the surface protective film F4, or the surface protective film F4 may be configured not to be separated from the optical member F1.

The optical member F1 includes a sheet-like polarizer F6, a first film F7 bonded to one surface of the polarizer F6 with an adhesive or the like, and a first film F7 bonded to the other surface of the polarizer F6 with an adhesive or the like. 2 film F8. The first film F7 and the second film F8 are protective films that protect the polarizer F6, for example.

Note that the optical member F1 may have a single-layer structure including a single optical layer, or a stacked structure in which a plurality of optical layers are stacked on each other. In addition to the polarizer F6, the optical layer may be a retardation film, a brightness enhancement film, or the like. At least one of the first film F7 and the second film F8 may be subjected to a surface treatment capable of obtaining an effect such as a hard coat treatment for protecting the outermost surface of the liquid crystal display element or an antiglare treatment including an antiglare treatment. The optical member F1 may not include at least one of the first film F7 and the second film F8. For example, when the first film F7 is omitted, the separator F3 may be bonded to one surface of the optical member F1 via the adhesive layer F2.

Next, the film bonding system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the film laminating system 1 of the present embodiment has a downstream side in the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel P on the left side in the drawing from the upstream side in the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel P on the right side (plus X direction side) (Minus X direction side), and a transport conveyor (transport device) 5 for transporting the liquid crystal panel P in a horizontal state is provided. As will be described in detail later, most of the conveyor 5 is composed of a roller conveyor up to the optical inspection position, and a portion of the conveyor 5 is composed of a flat belt conveyor immediately after the optical inspection position.

The transport conveyor 5 is divided into an upstream conveyor 6 and a downstream conveyor 7 with a first reversing device 15 described later as a boundary. As shown in FIG. 2, in the upstream conveyor 6, the liquid crystal panel P is transported such that the short side (or long side) of the display region P4 is along the transport direction. On the other hand, on the downstream conveyor 7, the liquid crystal panel P is transported such that the long side (or short side) of the display area P 4 is along the transport direction. A bonding sheet F5 cut out to a predetermined length from the belt-shaped optical sheet F is bonded to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel P.

In addition, the upstream conveyor 6 is provided with the independent free roller conveyor 24 in the downstream in the 1st adsorption | suction apparatus 11 mentioned later. On the other hand, the downstream conveyor 7 includes an independent free roller conveyor 24 on the downstream side in the second suction device 20 described later.

The film bonding system 1 of this embodiment is the 1st adsorption | suction apparatus 11, the 1st dust collector 12, the 1st bonding apparatus 13, the 1st deviation inspection apparatus 14, the 1st inversion apparatus 15, and the 2nd dust collection apparatus 16. The 2nd bonding apparatus 17, the 2nd shift inspection apparatus 18, the 2nd inversion apparatus 19, the 2nd adsorption | suction apparatus 20, the defect inspection apparatus (optical inspection apparatus) 30, and the control part 40 are provided.

The first suction device 11 sucks and transports the liquid crystal panel P to the upstream conveyor 6 and performs alignment (positioning) of the liquid crystal panel P. The first suction device 11 includes a panel holding unit 11a, an alignment camera 11b, and a rail R.

The panel holding unit 11a holds the liquid crystal panel P in contact with the downstream stopper S by the upstream conveyor 6 so as to be movable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and performs alignment of the liquid crystal panel P. The panel holding part 11a sucks and holds the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel P in contact with the stopper S by vacuum suction. The panel holding part 11a moves on the rail R in a state where the liquid crystal panel P is sucked and held, and transports the liquid crystal panel P. The panel holding unit 11a releases the suction holding and transfers the liquid crystal panel P to the free roller conveyor 24 when the conveyance is finished.

In the alignment camera 11b, the panel holding unit 11a holds the liquid crystal panel P in contact with the stopper S, and images the alignment mark, tip shape, and the like of the liquid crystal panel P in the raised state. Imaging data from the alignment camera 11b is transmitted to the control unit 40, and based on this imaging data, the panel holding unit 11a operates to align the liquid crystal panel P with the free roller conveyor 24 at the transport destination. In other words, the liquid crystal panel P is transported to the free roller conveyor 24 in consideration of the transport direction with respect to the free roller conveyor 24, the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the deviation in the turning direction around the vertical axis of the liquid crystal panel P. .
Here, the liquid crystal panel P conveyed on the rail R by the panel holding portion 11a is sandwiched between the leading end portion and the sandwiching sheet F5, which will be described later, while being attracted to the suction pad 26.

The 1st dust collector 12 is provided in the conveyance upstream of the liquid crystal panel P of the pinching roll 23 which is the bonding position of the 1st bonding apparatus 13. FIG. The first dust collector 12 removes static electricity and collects dust in order to remove dust around the liquid crystal panel P before being introduced to the bonding position, particularly dust on the lower surface side.

The 1st bonding apparatus 13 is provided in the panel conveyance downstream rather than the 1st adsorption | suction apparatus 11. FIG. The 1st bonding apparatus 13 bonds the bonding sheet | seat F5 cut into the predetermined size with respect to the lower surface of liquid crystal panel P introduced into the bonding position.

The first bonding device 13 includes a transport device 22 and a pinching roll 23.
The conveying device 22 conveys the optical sheet F along the longitudinal direction while unwinding the optical sheet F from the original roll R1 around which the optical sheet F is wound. The conveyance apparatus 22 conveys the bonding sheet | seat F5 by using the separator F3 as a carrier. The conveyance device 22 includes a roll holding portion 22a, a plurality of guide rollers 22b, a cutting device 22c, a knife edge 22d, and a winding portion 22e.

The roll holding unit 22a holds the original roll R1 around which the belt-shaped optical sheet F is wound, and feeds the optical sheet F along its longitudinal direction.
The plurality of guide rollers 22b wind the optical sheet F so as to guide the optical sheet F unwound from the original roll R1 along a predetermined conveyance path.
The cutting device 22c performs a half cut on the optical sheet F on the conveyance path.
The knife edge 22d supplies the bonding sheet F5 to the bonding position while winding the optical sheet F subjected to the half cut at an acute angle to separate the bonding sheet F5 from the separator F3.
The winding unit 22e holds a separator roll R2 that winds up the separator F3 that has become independent through the knife edge 22d.

The roll holding unit 22a positioned at the start point of the transport device 22 and the winding unit 22e positioned at the end point of the transport device 22 are driven in synchronization with each other, for example. Thereby, the winding unit 22e winds up the separator F3 that has passed through the knife edge 22d while the roll holding unit 22a feeds the optical sheet F in the transport direction. Hereinafter, the upstream side in the transport direction of the optical sheet F (separator F3) in the transport device 22 is referred to as a sheet transport upstream side, and the downstream side in the transport direction is referred to as a sheet transport downstream side.

Each guide roller 22b changes the traveling direction of the optical sheet F being conveyed along the conveyance path, and at least a part of the plurality of guide rollers 22b is movable so as to adjust the tension of the optical sheet F being conveyed. .

It should be noted that a dancer roller (not shown) may be disposed between the roll holding unit 22a and the cutting device 22c. The dancer roller absorbs the feeding amount of the optical sheet F conveyed from the roll holding unit 22a while the optical sheet F is cut by the cutting device 22c.

The cutting device 22c performs a half cut that cuts a part in the thickness direction of the optical sheet F over the entire width in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical sheet F when the optical sheet F is fed out by a predetermined length. .

The cutting device 22c adjusts the advancing / retreating position of the cutting blade so that the optical sheet F (separator F3) is not broken by the tension acting during the conveyance of the optical sheet F (so that a predetermined thickness remains in the separator F3). The half cut is performed up to the vicinity of the interface between the adhesive layer F2 and the separator F3. A laser device may be used instead of the cutting blade.

In the optical sheet F after half-cutting, the optical member F1 and the surface protection film F4 are cut in the thickness direction, whereby a cut line extending over the entire width of the optical sheet F is formed. A plurality of cutting lines are formed so as to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped optical sheet F. For example, in the case of the bonding process which conveys liquid crystal panel P of the same size, a plurality of score lines are formed at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of optical sheet F. The optical sheet F is divided into a plurality of sections in the longitudinal direction by the plurality of cut lines. Each section sandwiched between a pair of cut lines adjacent in the longitudinal direction in the optical sheet F is a sheet piece in the bonding sheet F5.

The knife edge 22d is arranged below the upstream conveyor 6 and extends in the width direction of the optical sheet F at least over its entire width. The knife edge 22d is wound so as to be in sliding contact with the separator F3 side of the optical sheet F after half-cutting.

The knife edge 22d is seen from the width direction of the optical sheet F above the first surface, and the first surface arranged in an inclined position when viewed from the width direction of the optical sheet F (width direction of the upstream conveyor 6). It has the 2nd surface arrange | positioned at an acute angle with respect to a 1st surface, and the front-end | tip part where a 1st surface and a 2nd surface cross.

The knife edge 22d winds the optical sheet F at an acute angle at the tip. The optical sheet F separates the sheet piece of the bonding sheet F5 from the separator F3 when turning back at an acute angle at the tip of the knife edge 22d. The knife edge 22d is disposed on the panel conveyance upstream side of the narrow pressure roll 23, and the tip portion of the knife edge 22d is disposed in proximity to the panel conveyance downstream side of the pinching roll 23. The bonding sheet F5 separated from the separator F3 by the knife edge 22d is introduced between the pair of bonding rollers 23a of the pressure roll 23 while overlapping the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel P in the state of being sucked by the first suction device 11. The

The pinching roll 23 bonds the bonding sheet F5 having a predetermined length separated from the optical sheet F by the conveying device 22 to the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel P conveyed by the upstream conveyor 6. The pinching roll 23 has a pair of

bonding rollers

23a and 23a arranged in parallel with each other in the axial direction (the upper bonding roller 23a moves in the vertical direction). A predetermined gap is formed between the pair of

bonding rollers

23 a and 23 a, and the inside of this gap is the bonding position of the first bonding apparatus 13. The liquid crystal panel P and the bonding sheet F5 are overlapped and introduced into the gap. These liquid crystal panels P and the bonding sheet | seat F5 are sent out to the panel conveyance downstream of the upstream conveyor 6, being pinched by each bonding roller 23a. Thereby, the bonding sheet | seat F5 is integrally bonded by the lower surface of liquid crystal panel P. FIG.
Hereinafter, the panel after this bonding is called single-sided bonding panel P11.

The 1st shift | offset | difference inspection apparatus 14 is provided in the panel conveyance downstream rather than the 1st bonding apparatus 13. FIG. The 1st shift | offset | difference test | inspection apparatus 14 test | inspects whether the position of the bonding sheet | seat F5 with respect to liquid crystal panel P is appropriate in the single-sided bonding panel P11 (whether a position shift exists in a tolerance range). The first misalignment inspection apparatus 14 includes a pair of

cameras

14a and 14a that capture images of the edge of the bonding sheet F5 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the single-sided bonding panel P11, for example. Image data obtained by the pair of

cameras

14a and 14a is transmitted to the control unit 40, and it is determined whether or not the relative positions of the bonding sheet F5 and the liquid crystal panel P are appropriate based on the image data. The single-sided bonding panel P11 determined to have an inappropriate relative position is discharged out of the system by a not-shown payout means.

The first reversing device 15 is provided on the downstream side of the panel conveyance with respect to the first deviation inspection device 14 and conveys the liquid crystal panel P that has reached the end position of the upstream conveyor 6 to the starting position of the downstream conveyor 7. The first reversing device 15 includes, for example, a rotation shaft 15a inclined at 45 ° in a plan view with respect to the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel P, and an end position of the upstream conveyor 6 and the downstream conveyor 7 via the rotation shaft 15a. And a reversing arm 15b supported between the first starting positions.

The reverse arm 15b holds the single-sided bonding panel P11 that has reached the end position of the upstream conveyor 6 via the first misalignment inspection device 14 by suction or sandwiching. The reversing arm 15b reverses the front and back of the single-sided bonding panel P11 by rotating 180 ° around the rotating shaft 15a. The reversing arm 15b is configured so that, for example, the single-sided bonding panel P11 transported in parallel with the short side (or long side) of the display region P4 is transported in parallel with the long side (or short side) of the display region P4. Turn around.

The reversal is performed when the optical members F1 to be bonded to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel P are arranged so that the directions of the polarization axes are perpendicular to each other. In the upstream conveyor 6 and the downstream conveyor 7, the direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1 is the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel P. By passing through the first reversing device 15, the upstream conveyor 6 and the downstream conveyor 7 The side conveyor 7 is offset by a predetermined amount in plan view.

In the case of simply reversing the front and back of the liquid crystal panel P, for example, a reversing device having a reversing arm having a rotation axis parallel to the transport direction may be used. In this case, if the sheet conveying direction of the first bonding device 13 and the sheet conveying direction of the second bonding device 17 are arranged at right angles to each other in a plan view, the polarization axis directions are perpendicular to each other on the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel P. The optical member F1 made can be pasted.

The reversing arm 15b has the same alignment function as the panel holding portion 11a of the first suction device 11. The first reversing device 15 is provided with an alignment camera 15 c similar to the alignment camera 11 b of the first suction device 11.

Since the second adsorption device 20 has the same configuration as that of the first adsorption device 11, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions for explanation. The 2nd adsorption | suction apparatus 20 adsorbs the single-sided bonding panel P11, conveys it to the downstream conveyor 7, and performs alignment (positioning) of the single-sided bonding panel P11. The second suction device 20 includes a panel holding unit 11a, an alignment camera 11b, and a rail R.

The panel holding unit 11a holds the single-sided bonding panel P11 that is in contact with the downstream stopper S by the downstream conveyor 7 so as to be movable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and performs alignment of the single-sided bonding panel P11. The panel holding | maintenance part 11a adsorbs and hold | maintains the upper surface of the single-sided bonding panel P11 which contact | abutted to the stopper S by vacuum suction. The panel holding | maintenance part 11a moves on the rail R in the state which adsorbed and hold | maintained the single-sided bonding panel P11, and conveys the single-sided bonding panel P11. The panel holding unit 11a releases the suction holding and transfers the single-sided bonding panel P11 to the free roller conveyor 24 when the conveyance is finished.

The alignment camera 11b holds the single-sided bonding panel P11 in contact with the stopper S by the panel holding part 11a, and images the alignment mark, the tip shape, etc. of the single-sided bonding panel P11 in the raised state. Imaging data from the alignment camera 11b is transmitted to the control unit 40, and based on this imaging data, the panel holding unit 11a is operated to align the single-sided bonding panel P11 with respect to the free roller conveyor 24 at the transport destination. That is, the single-sided bonding panel P11 is in a state in which the amount of misalignment in the conveying direction with respect to the free roller conveyor 24, the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and the turning direction around the vertical axis of the single-sided bonding panel P11 is taken into account. It is conveyed to.

The 2nd dust collector 16 is arrange | positioned in the conveyance direction upstream of the liquid crystal panel P of the pinching roll 23 which is the bonding position of the 2nd bonding apparatus 17. FIG. The second dust collecting device 16 removes static electricity and collects dust in order to remove dust around the single-sided bonding panel P11 before being introduced to the bonding position, particularly dust on the lower surface side.

The 2nd bonding apparatus 17 is provided in the panel conveyance downstream rather than the 2nd dust collector 16. FIG. The 2nd bonding apparatus 17 bonds the bonding sheet | seat F5 cut into the predetermined size with respect to the lower surface of the single-sided bonding panel P11 introduced into the bonding position. The 2nd bonding apparatus 17 is provided with the conveying apparatus 22 and the pinching roll 23 similar to the said 1st bonding apparatus 13. FIG.

In the gap between the pair of bonding rollers 23a of the pinching roll 23 (the bonding position of the second bonding apparatus 17), the single-sided bonding panel P11 and the bonding sheet F5 are introduced in an overlapping state, and the single-sided bonding is performed. A bonding sheet F5 is integrally bonded to the lower surface of the combined panel P11.
Hereinafter, the panel after this bonding is called double-sided bonding panel P12 (optical member bonding panel).

The second misalignment inspection device 18 is provided on the panel transport downstream side of the second bonding device 17. The second misalignment inspection device 18 inspects whether or not the position of the bonding sheet F5 with respect to the single-sided bonding panel P11 is appropriate (whether the positional deviation is within the tolerance range) in the double-sided bonding panel P12. The 2nd shift | offset | difference test | inspection apparatus 18 has a pair of

cameras

18a and 18a which image the edge of the bonding sheet | seat F5 in the panel conveyance upstream and downstream of the double-sided bonding panel P12, for example. Imaging data from the pair of

cameras

18a, 18a is transmitted to the control unit 40, and based on this imaging data, it is determined whether or not the relative positions of the bonding sheet F5 and the liquid crystal panel P are appropriate. The double-sided bonded panel P12 determined to have an inappropriate relative position is discharged out of the system by a not-shown payout means.

The second reversing device 19 is provided on the downstream side of the panel conveyance with respect to the second misalignment inspection device 18. The second reversing device 19 reverses the front and back of the liquid crystal panel P (double-sided bonding panel P12) with the backlight side facing upward via the first reversing device 15 and the liquid crystal is the same as when carrying into the film bonding system 1. The display surface side of the panel P is turned upward.

The defect inspection device (optical inspection device) 30 is provided on the downstream side of the panel conveyance with respect to the second reversing device 19. The defect inspection apparatus 30 inspects the presence / absence of a defect (such as bonding failure) of the double-sided bonding panel P12. Examples of the defects to be inspected include defects such as biting of foreign matter or bubbles when the liquid crystal panel and the bonding sheet are bonded, scratches on the surface of the bonding sheet, and alignment defects inherent in the liquid crystal panel.

In addition, in this embodiment, the control part 40 as an electronic control apparatus which performs overall control of each part of the film bonding system 1 is comprised including the computer system. This computer system includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU and a storage unit such as a memory and a hard disk.
The control unit 40 of the present embodiment includes an interface that can execute communication with an external device of the computer system. An input device that can input an input signal may be connected to the control unit 40. The input device includes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, or a communication device that can input data from a device external to the computer system. The control unit 40 may include a display device such as a liquid crystal display that indicates the operation status of each unit of the film bonding system 1 or may be connected to the display device.

An operating system (OS) that controls the computer system is installed in the storage unit of the control unit 40. The storage unit of the control unit 40 includes a program that causes the arithmetic processing unit to control each unit of the film bonding system 1 to execute processing for causing each unit of the film bonding system 1 to accurately convey the optical sheet F. It is recorded. Various types of information including programs recorded in the storage unit can be read by the arithmetic processing unit of the control unit 40. The control unit 40 may include a logic circuit such as an ASIC that executes various processes required for controlling each unit of the film bonding system 1.

The storage unit is a concept including a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and an external storage device such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM reader, and a disk-type storage medium. The storage unit functionally includes a first adsorption device 11, a first dust collecting device 12, a first pasting device 13, a first displacement inspection device 14, a first reversing device 15, a second dust collecting device 16, and a first. 2 bonding device 17, second misalignment inspection device 18, second reversing device 19, second suction device 20, a storage area for storing program software describing operation control procedures of defect inspection device 30, and other various memories An area is set.

(Conveyance inspection device)
Next, the conveyance inspection apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail.
FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the transport inspection apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing only the transport apparatus in the transport inspection apparatus. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the configuration of the flat belt conveyor in the transport apparatus, and FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the defect inspection apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 5, this conveyance inspection apparatus 50 is carrying out the conveyance path | route in the middle of a conveyance path | route, conveying the double-sided bonding panel (optical member bonding panel) P12 to a fixed direction (arrow S1 direction in FIG. 5) with the conveying apparatus 60. The double-sided bonded panel is optically inspected by the arranged defect inspection device (optical inspection device) 30.

5 and 8, symbol Sf1 is a lower surface (first main surface) of a double-sided bonding panel (optical member bonding panel) P12, for example, a surface to which a backlight is attached. Symbol Sf2 is the upper surface (second main surface) of the double-sided bonding panel P12, for example, an image display surface.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the defect inspection apparatus 30 in the transport inspection apparatus 50 of the present embodiment includes a first inspection unit 31 for bottom surface reflection inspection, and a second inspection unit 32 for top surface reflection inspection. The third inspection unit 33 for transmission inspection is provided in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction.

First, the first inspection unit 31 on the most upstream side includes an illumination light source 311 and an imaging device 312 arranged on the lower side of the panel conveyance line. The first inspection unit 31 emits light obliquely from the illumination light source 311 to the first main surface (lower surface) Sf1 with respect to the double-sided bonding panel P12 with the display surface side facing upward through the second reversing device 19. The light reflected by the first main surface Sf1 is imaged by the imaging device 312. And the presence or absence of the defect of the lower surface (surface on the opposite side to an image display surface) of the double-sided bonding panel P12 is test | inspected based on this imaging data.

Next, the second inspection unit 32 includes an illumination light source 321 and an imaging device 322 disposed on the upper side of the panel conveyance line. The second inspection unit 32 emits light obliquely from the illumination light source 321 to the second main surface (upper surface) Sf2 with respect to the double-sided bonding panel P12 with the display surface side facing upward through the second reversing device 19. The light reflected by the second main surface Sf2 is imaged by the imaging device 322. And based on this imaging data, the presence or absence of the defect of the upper surface (image display surface) of the double-sided bonding panel P12 is test | inspected.

Next, the third inspection unit 33 on the most downstream side illuminates the double-sided bonding panel P12 from the first main surface (lower surface) Sf1 side, and the double-sided bonding panel P12 illuminated by the illumination light source 331. The two imaging devices (the first imaging device 332 and the second imaging device 333) that capture the image of (2) from the second main surface (upper surface) Sf2 side.

The illumination light source 331 causes the first light to be incident substantially perpendicular to the first main surface Sf1. The first imaging device 332 is arranged on the optical axis of the illumination light source 321 with the double-sided bonding panel P12 interposed therebetween, and is substantially straight upward in the vertical direction out of the light emitted from the illumination light source 331 and transmitted through the double-sided bonding panel P12. An image of the traveling light is taken. Moreover, the 2nd imaging device 333 is arrange | positioned in the position shifted | deviated from the optical axis of the illumination light source 331, and permeate | transmits diagonally upward and advances among the light inject | emitted from the illumination light source 331 and scattered by the double-sided bonding panel P12. Take an image of light.

The third inspection unit 33 detects the distribution of transmittance in a plane parallel to the second main surface Sf2 when viewed from the optical axis direction based on the imaging result of the first imaging device 332, and has a large transmittance. The part is detected as a defective part. If the double-sided bonded panel P12 has an orientation failure or has a scratch on the surface of the optical member, the transmittance of that portion will be higher than that of the other portions, so transmission when viewed from the direction of the optical axis. If the distribution of the rate is detected, it is possible to detect the presence of orientation failure and scratches on the optical member.

The third inspection unit 33 detects the distribution of transmittance in a plane parallel to the second main surface Sf2 when viewed from an oblique direction with respect to the optical axis, based on the imaging result of the second imaging device 333. Then, a portion having a high transmittance is detected as a defective portion. If there is a foreign substance or a bubble on the double-sided bonding panel P12, the light emitted from the illumination light source 331 is scattered by the foreign substance or the bubble, and a part of the scattered light is incident on the second imaging device 333. On the other hand, when there is no foreign object or bubble, scattered light is not generated, and the captured image of the second imaging device 333 becomes dark. Therefore, the presence or absence of foreign matter or bubbles can be detected by detecting the transmittance distribution when viewed from an oblique direction with respect to the optical axis.

Furthermore, the light emitted from the illumination light source 331 is not only in the case where there is a foreign object or bubble on the second main surface Sf2 side, but also in the case where there is a foreign object or bubble on the first main surface Sf1 side. Scattered. Therefore, according to the third inspection unit 33, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of foreign matters or bubbles on both sides of the second main surface Sf2 side and the first main surface Sf1 side.

By the way, particularly in the optical inspection by the third inspection unit 33 for transmission inspection, the rectangular double-sided bonded panel P12 is positioned particularly at the front and rear ends in the transport direction, and the short side is in the transport direction. In the case where the roller conveyor is transported at a certain speed or more in a posture positioned in parallel with the sensor, false detection of defect detection due to light leakage may occur. That is, when it conveys with a roller conveyor, when the front end of the double-sided bonding panel P12 transfers on a roller one after another, the double-sided bonding panel P12 may vibrate in a Z direction. As a result, false detection of defect detection due to light leakage may occur.

Therefore, in the transport device 60 of the transport inspection device 50 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upstream transport conveyor 61 that transports the double-sided bonding panel P 12 to the optical inspection position K by the third inspection unit 33. As with the upstream side, the roller conveyor 61A is used. On the other hand, about the downstream side conveyance conveyor 62 which conveys the double-sided bonding panel P12 immediately after the optical inspection position K, it comprises the flat belt conveyor 62A using the flat belt 71 in which the conveyance surface where the double-sided bonding panel P12 rests is flat. .

The roller conveyor 61A which is the upstream side conveyor 61 corresponds to a part of the downstream side of the conveyor 5 (downstream conveyor 7) described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the roller conveyor 61 A has a large number of rollers 61 B arranged at a predetermined interval, and there is a lot of extra space in the layout area of the roller conveyor 61 A. Therefore, the transmission type third inspection unit 33 can be easily arranged in those extra spaces.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the flat belt conveyor 62A is arranged so that the double-sided bonding panel P12 can be transferred immediately after the inspection position K by the third inspection unit 33 for transmission inspection. In the case of this embodiment, a plurality of flat belt conveyors 62A having a width smaller than the panel to be conveyed are arranged in parallel with the conveying direction S1 with an appropriate space between adjacent flat belt conveyors 62A. Yes. Various sensors are arranged in the space between the adjacent flat belt conveyors 62A as necessary. The plurality of flat belt conveyors 62A arranged in parallel with each other can be driven in synchronization to horizontally transport the double-sided bonding panel P12 in the transport direction S1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flat belt conveyor 62A hangs an endless flat belt 71 on front and

rear rollers

72, 73, a driving roller 74, a support roller 75, a tension roller 76, and the like that are spaced apart in the conveying direction. When the motor 77 is driven and the driving roller 74 is rotated, the flat belt 71 rotates in a certain direction. And the to-be-conveyed object mounted in the linear movement area above the flat belt to circulate is conveyed in a fixed direction. Further, the tension mechanism 78 applies force to the tension roller 76 to apply tension to the flat belt 71, thereby stably supporting and transporting the object to be conveyed in a horizontal state.

According to this conveyance inspection apparatus 50, the upstream conveyance process which conveys the double-sided bonding panel P12 to the optical inspection position K becomes a conveyance process by the roller conveyor 61A, and the downstream which conveys the double-sided bonding panel P12 from the optical inspection position K. A side conveyance process turns into a conveyance process by a flat belt conveyor.

Therefore, immediately after the front end of the double-sided bonding panel P12 passes through the optical inspection position K, it is immediately transferred onto the flat belt 71. And while being transported by the flat belt 71, vibration due to the transfer is less likely to occur on the double-sided bonding panel P12, and the double-sided bonding panel P12 receives the buffering action and the stable support action of the flat belt 71. As in the case of use, it is possible to suppress the generation of a false alarm by generating a vibration every time a transfer is made on the roller. As a result, the conveyance speed of the double-sided bonding panel P12 can be increased, and the production efficiency can be improved. Incidentally, according to the conveyance inspection apparatus 50 of the present embodiment, the 50-inch size panel is set to the posture of the long side opening (the direction in which the long side is directed to the front end and the rear end in the conveyance direction) at a conveyance speed of 250 mm / sec. Transmission inspection can be performed while transporting.

Further, since the upstream conveyor 61 is composed of a roller conveyor 61A in which a gap is secured between the rollers, an optical inspection by an optical inspection device (the third inspection unit 33 or the like) is performed using the space between the rollers. It can be carried out. Moreover, since double-sided bonding panel P12 is conveyed with a separate roller, the freedom degree on conveyance, such as temporarily stopping conveyance of double-sided bonding panel P12, can be ensured highly.

As mentioned above, although an example of a suitable embodiment concerning the present invention was explained referring to an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that the present invention is not limited to the example concerned. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the upstream conveyor 61 is configured by the roller conveyor 61 A has been described. However, the upstream conveyor 61 may be configured by a flat belt conveyor similar to the downstream conveyor 62. is there. In that case, it is preferable that a space capable of optical inspection by the third inspection unit 33 for light transmission inspection is secured in the layout region of the flat belt conveyor constituting the upstream side conveyor 61. As described above, when not only the downstream side conveyor 62 but also the upstream side conveyor 61 is constituted by a flat belt conveyor, it is possible to suppress vibrations caused by transit during the transportation until the optical inspection position K is reached. The reliability can be further improved.

Further, when both the upstream side conveyor 61 and the downstream side conveyor 62 are constituted by flat belt conveyors, it is also possible to constitute a common flat belt conveyor using a flat belt in which both are integrally continuous. When configured in this manner, since there is no connection from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor, the vibration suppressing effect can be further enhanced.
In the present invention, it is only necessary that the downstream-side transport conveyor 62 that transports the panel at least immediately after the optical inspection position K is constituted by a flat belt conveyor.

The conveyance inspection device and conveyance inspection method of the optical member bonding panel according to the present invention suppresses false detection of defect detection due to vibration of the optical member bonding panel when performing an optical inspection while conveying the optical member bonding panel. Since efficient inspection can be performed, a conveyance inspection device and a conveyance inspection method excellent in production efficiency can be provided.

30 Defect inspection equipment (optical inspection equipment)
33 Third inspection unit (optical inspection device)
331 Illumination light source 332 1st imaging device 333 2nd imaging device 50 Conveyance inspection device 60 Conveying device 61 Upstream conveying conveyor 61A Roller conveyor 62 Downstream conveying conveyor 62A Flat belt conveyor 71 Flat belt P12 Double-sided bonding panel (Optical member bonding) panel)
Sf1 first main surface Sf2 second main surface

Claims

It is a conveyance inspection device for an optical member bonding panel that inspects the optical member bonding panel by an optical inspection device arranged in the middle of the conveyance path while conveying the optical member bonding panel in a certain direction by a conveyance device,
An upstream conveying conveyor that conveys the optical member bonding panel to an optical inspection position by the optical inspection device; a downstream conveying conveyor that conveys the optical member bonding panel immediately after the optical inspection position; With
The transport inspection apparatus for an optical member bonding panel, wherein at least the downstream transport conveyor is a flat belt conveyor having a flat belt on which a transport surface on which the optical member bonding panel is placed is formed.
The conveyance inspection device for an optical member bonding panel according to claim 1, wherein the upstream conveyance conveyor is a roller conveyor.
The upstream transport conveyor is a flat belt conveyor similar to the downstream transport conveyor, and at least a layout area of the flat belt conveyor constituting the upstream transport conveyor has a space for optical inspection by the optical inspection device. The conveyance inspection apparatus for an optical member bonding panel according to claim 1, wherein:
It is a conveyance inspection method of an optical member bonding panel that inspects the optical member bonding panel by an optical inspection device arranged in the conveyance path while conveying the optical member bonding panel in a certain direction,
The conveyance process of the said optical member bonding panel conveys the said optical member bonding panel from the upstream conveyance process which conveys the said optical member bonding panel to the optical inspection position by the said optical inspection apparatus, and the said optical inspection position immediately. A downstream conveying step,
The transport inspection method for an optical member bonding panel, wherein at least the downstream side transporting step is a transporting step by a flat belt conveyor in which a transport surface on which the optical member bonding panel is placed is configured by a flat flat belt.