JPH0921987A - Liquid crystal panel suction device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To improve the quality of liquid crystal equipment and the operating rate of equipment. [Structure] A pair of moving blocks 5A and a linear drive mechanism are provided on both sides of an LCD stage 2. The linear drive mechanism is composed of a rotary shaft and a nut portion screwed onto the outer periphery of the rotary shaft, and the moving block 5A is fixed to the nut portion. On the upper part of the moving block 5A, the vacuum suction unit 3A
Is provided. The vacuum suction portion 3A is composed of a central bolt 8 and an O-ring-shaped soft packing loosely fitted to the outer periphery of the bolt 8 and joined at its lower end to the moving block 5A. The liquid crystal panel 1A is held in a stable state by driving the rotary shaft of the linear drive mechanism rightward or leftward so that the distance between the pair of moving blocks 5A corresponds to the outer shape of the liquid crystal panel 1A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel suction device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD (Liquor
In the process of manufacturing
An anisotropic conductive film (hereinafter referred to as an ACF (Amisotropic Conductive Film) tape) is attached to a liquid crystal panel by an ACF attaching device, and a driving IC is attached to the liquid crystal panel to which the ACF tape is attached by a TCP temporary pressure bonding device. (Hereinafter referred to as TCP (Tape Carrier Package))
Is temporarily pressure-bonded, and finally, the temporarily pressure-bonded TCP is finally pressure-bonded by a main pressure-bonding device.

In each of these steps, for example, in an ACF sticking apparatus, since the ACF is supplied to a predetermined position of the liquid crystal panel, a suction for holding the liquid crystal panel and moving it in the X, Y and θ directions. Equipment is required.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an example of such a conventional suction device, and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of FIG. 5 and 6, the liquid crystal panel suction device driven in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the θ-axis direction by a carrier device such as a Cartesian carrier robot is shown in FIG.
There are four vacuum suction parts 3D shown by, and the liquid crystal panel 1A shown by the chain double-dashed line is sucked by these vacuum suction parts 3D.

That is, on the upper surface of the LCD stage 2,
A circular counterbore 2a is formed at each of the four corners as shown in FIG. 6, and a cylindrical connecting portion 2b is fixed to the center of the counterbore 2a.

The lower cylindrical portion of the suction pad 14 having an inverted trapezoidal upper portion is press-fitted and fixed to the connecting portion 2b. A through hole is formed from the center of the connecting portion 2b to the lower end of the LCD stage 2, and the lower end of the through hole is formed.
A taper internal thread 2c is formed, and a pneumatic joint is screwed into the taper internal thread 2c. An air pressure hose connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) via a solenoid valve is connected to the air pressure joint.

In the liquid crystal panel suction device thus constructed, the liquid crystal panel 1 placed on the upper surface of the suction pad 4 by the positioning stopper (not shown) operates the solenoid valve connected to the pneumatic hose (not shown). Then, it is adsorbed to the adsorption pad 14 and driven by a moving mechanism (not shown) to move in a predetermined direction at a predetermined position.

Next, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional suction device for a liquid crystal panel, which is different from FIG. Figure 7 shows LC
A case where the liquid crystal panel 1 placed on the upper surface of the D stage 2 is conveyed to a predetermined position by an arm 6 of a conveying device (not shown) is shown. The tip of the arm 6 is formed in a U shape, and the left claw of the tip is formed. The vacuum suction portion 3D shown in FIG. 6 is formed on the top surface of the tip and the base end of the portion 6a and the tip and the base end of the right claw portion 6b.

In the liquid crystal panel suction device thus constructed, when the liquid crystal panel 1 sucked on the upper surface of the LCD stage 2 is transported to the next step, the liquid crystal is sucked by the vacuum suction unit 3D formed on the arm 6. After adsorbing panel 1,
The suction by the pneumatic hose connected to the LCD stage 2 is released, the arm 6 is moved slightly upward, and the X axis and Y
It is conveyed to a predetermined position by driving the shaft.

When the liquid crystal panel 1 is sucked by the suction device attached to the apparatus of the next step, the suction by the vacuum suction portion 3D at the tip of the arm 6 is released, the arm 6 is lowered and retracted, and the original again. Return to position.

[0011]

However, in the liquid crystal panel suction device configured as described above, if the outer shape of the liquid crystal panel 1A becomes large, the outer shape of the LCD stage 2 must be changed correspondingly, and the liquid crystal panel 1A must be changed accordingly. Can not be stably held.

Therefore, since the LCD stage 2 must be replaced every time the outer shape of the liquid crystal panel changes, not only is the operating rate of the suction device for this liquid crystal panel lowered, but also
It will be an obstacle to increase the production of LCDs by the devices and devices that incorporate LCD panels.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel 1A sucked by the suction pad 14, the vertical position and the horizontalness are slightly changed due to a slight variation in flexibility of the suction pad 14 and a slight change in pressure of the vacuum pump. There is a risk.

Then, there is a possibility that the accuracy of applying the ACF tape, which is performed in the downstream process, may be reduced.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a liquid crystal panel adsorption device capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of liquid crystal equipment and increasing the operating rate of equipment.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal panel suction device, which has an LCD stage which is driven by a plurality of drive shafts and has a liquid crystal panel mounted on the upper surface thereof. A linear drive mechanism provided,
The linear drive mechanism is provided with a pair of moving blocks which are provided on the driven side and which are provided on the upper side to project the liquid crystal panel and which move in opposite directions, and a drive section which drives the linear drive mechanism. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal panel suction device, wherein an LCD stage is provided at the tip of an arm which is driven by a plurality of drive shafts, and the liquid crystal panel is placed on the upper surface thereof. It is characterized by comprising moving blocks provided on both sides and a linear drive mechanism provided on one side of the moving block and engaged with one side of the moving block to drive the moving blocks in mutually opposite directions.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel suction device according to the third aspect of the invention, the LCD stage is driven by a plurality of drive shafts and the liquid crystal panel is mounted on the upper surface, and the LCD stage.
Via a pneumatic arm that has a base end fixed to a pneumatic rotary joint arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the stage, and a suction part that projects the liquid crystal panel at the front end is projected, and a link provided on the outer periphery of the LCD stage. It is characterized in that it is provided with a drive ring connected to an intermediate portion of the pneumatic arm and a drive section for swinging the drive ring to swing the tip of the pneumatic arm.

As a result, in the liquid crystal panel suction device according to the first and second aspects of the invention, for a small liquid crystal panel, the linear drive mechanism is driven to move the pair of moving blocks inward. For a large liquid crystal panel, the linear drive mechanism is driven to move the pair of moving blocks to the outside.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel suction device according to the third aspect of the present invention, for a small liquid crystal panel, the drive ring is driven in one direction so that the tip of the pneumatic arm is LC.
If you bring it close to the D stage,
This is done by driving the drive ring in the opposite direction to move the tip of the pneumatic arm away from the LCD stage.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view corresponding to claim 1, showing a first embodiment of a liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an LC fixed on a table driven in the directions of arrows X, Y and θ by a moving mechanism (not shown).
A pair of moving blocks 5A is attached to the front left and the rear right of the D stage 2.

Of these, a rectangular tubular nut portion having a right screw formed on the inner periphery is fixed to the lower portion of the moving block 5A on the right front side, and an inner periphery is formed on the lower portion of the moving block 5A on the left rear side. A square tube-shaped nut portion on which a left-hand thread is formed is fixed.

A rotating shaft having a left-hand thread formed on one side of the central part and a right-hand thread formed on the right side of the central part is previously screwed into these nut parts, and one end of these rotating shafts is not shown. It is connected to a drive shaft (not shown) via a gear.

A pulse motor (not shown) is connected to the drive shaft, and a positioning controller (not shown) is connected to the pulse motor. On the upper surface of each moving block 5A, the vacuum suction part 3 whose details are shown in the enlarged vertical cross-section of FIG.
A is formed.

That is, in FIG. 2, the moving block 5
Since the screw hole 5a is formed on the upper surface of A, the shaft portion of the bolt 8 in which the outer periphery of the head is processed into an arcuate concave surface is screwed. On the outside of the head of the bolt 8, an O-ring-shaped soft packing 4 made of foam is placed, and the diameter of the soft packing 4 is slightly larger than the thickness of the head of the bolt 8. . The lower surface of the soft packing 4 is bonded to the moving block 5A with an adhesive.

A through hole 9 is formed in the axial center of the bolt 8 and is formed in the moving block 5A. Therefore, a through hole is also formed between the center of the bottom of the screw hole 5a and the bottom surface of the moving block 5A. A taper female thread is formed at the lower end of the through hole, and a pneumatic joint 2c (not shown) is screwed therein. This pneumatic joint 2c is provided with L of FIG. 5 and FIG.
Similar to the CD stage 2, it is connected to a pneumatic pump via a solenoid valve (not shown).

In the liquid crystal panel suction device constructed as described above, the liquid packing of the liquid crystal panel 1A placed on the four moving blocks 5A is caused by the suction by the pneumatic pump to bend the flexible packing 4, By contacting the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 1A with the upper surfaces of the heads of the four bolts 8, parallel to the LCD stage 2 and at constant intervals regardless of the hardness of the soft packing and the fluctuation of the pressure of the vacuum pump. Held in.

When the large liquid crystal panel 1B shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 is mounted, the rotary shaft screwed into the nut at the bottom of the moving block 5A is driven by a pulse motor. , The left and right moving blocks 5A are moved to both sides in the X-axis direction as shown by the broken line in FIG.

In the liquid crystal panel suction device constructed as described above, the moving block 5A is moved left and right in accordance with the outer shape of the liquid crystal panel to be supplied, so that the liquid crystal panel of an arbitrary outer shape can be horizontally and stably. Can be held.

Further, unlike the conventional liquid crystal panel suction device, it is not necessary to perform zero adjustment of the X-axis, Y-axis and θ-axis of the LCD stage shown in FIG. 1 every time the LCD stage is replaced. It is possible to increase the operating rate of equipment and increase the production of liquid crystal devices. The rotary shaft that drives the moving block may be configured to be manually driven.

Next, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to claim 2. In FIG. FIG. 3 shows a liquid crystal panel suction device configured at the tip of the transfer arm 6, and is shown in FIG.
FIG.

In FIG. 3, the rotary shaft described in FIG. 1 is provided via a bearing (not shown) at the lower part of the distal end of the transfer arm 6 whose distal end is formed into a substantially T-shape. Since the rod-shaped moving block 5B is formed on the nut portion at the base end, the screw portion is screwed.

These nuts also have left-hand threads formed on the nuts of the left moving block 5B, and the right moving block 5B has the same nut as the above-mentioned nuts fixed to the lower part of the moving block 5A shown in FIG. A right-hand thread is formed on the nut portion of 5B.

In the liquid crystal panel suction device thus constructed, when the large liquid crystal panel 1B sucked onto the upper surface of the LCD stage 2 via the moving block 5A is received and supplied to the next step, The liquid crystal panel 1B can be held horizontally and stably by moving the moving block 5B to the outside and adsorbing the liquid crystal panel 1B.

Next, FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to claim 3. In FIG. In FIG. 4A, pneumatic joints 7 not shown in detail are arranged at 90 ° intervals on the outer periphery of the LCD stage 2A formed in a disc shape. This pneumatic joint 7
An air pressure hose connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the lower end of the fixed shaft provided at the center of the.

The base end of a pneumatic arm 10 formed in an arc shape is fitted to each pneumatic joint 3C. A through hole is formed at the center of the pneumatic arm 10, and the vertical section of the pneumatic arm 10 has a rectangular annular shape.

The bolt 8 shown in FIG. 2 is screwed into the center of the suction portion 3B at the tip of the pneumatic arm 10, and the soft packing 4 is placed on the outer periphery of the bolt 8 as in FIG. , Is bonded to the upper surface of the tip of the pneumatic arm 10 with an adhesive. The lower end of the through hole formed in the axial center of the bolt 8 has a pneumatic arm.
It communicates with the pneumatic joint 7 at the base end of 10.

Pins are provided on the lower surface of the center of each pneumatic arm 10.
11 are installed vertically. These pins 11 are shown in FIG.
4 (b) showing the action of FIG. 4 (b), the ends of the strip-shaped links 12 shown by a constant chain line are connected, and the base ends of these links 12 are annular drive rings (not shown) installed on the lower outer periphery of the LCD stage 2A. Are linked to.

Rack teeth (not shown) are formed on the outer periphery of the drive ring. A small pinion gear meshes with the rack teeth, and a pulse motor is connected to the shaft of the pinion gear.

In the liquid crystal panel suction device thus constructed, when sucking the small liquid crystal panel 1A indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 4 (a), the empty space at the base end of each pneumatic arm 10 is used. A vacuum pump connected via a pneumatic hose connected to the pressure joint 7 suctions the suction portion 3B at the tip of each pneumatic arm 10.

When the large liquid crystal panel 1B is sucked, the above-mentioned pulse motor is driven and the drive ring is swung by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Each of the pneumatic arms 10 is swung counterclockwise about the pneumatic joint 7 via the link 12 shown in FIG. 4 (b) to obtain the state shown in FIG. 4 (b).

In the liquid crystal panel suction device constructed as described above, by driving the pulse motor in accordance with the outer shape of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel of any outer shape can be accommodated.

Further, since each pneumatic arm 10 swings symmetrically with respect to the center of the LCD stage 2A at an equal angle, there is an advantage suitable for a liquid crystal panel having a square shape. Furthermore, by changing the length of the pneumatic arm 10, it is possible to support a larger liquid crystal panel.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
An LCD stage driven by a plurality of drive shafts and having a liquid crystal panel mounted on the upper surface, linear drive mechanisms provided on both sides of the LCD stage, and a liquid crystal panel sucked on the upper side provided on the driven side of the linear drive mechanism. For a small liquid crystal panel, the linear drive mechanism is driven to drive the pair of moving blocks that are provided with a pair of moving blocks that are provided with protruding suction units and move in opposite directions. Since the moving block is moved inward and a large liquid crystal panel is driven by driving the linear drive mechanism to move the pair of moving blocks outward, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of the liquid crystal device. Thus, it is possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel adsorption device that can increase the operating rate of the equipment.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an LCD stage is provided at the tip of an arm driven by a plurality of drive shafts and has a liquid crystal panel mounted on the upper surface thereof.
By providing the moving blocks provided on both sides of the CD stage and the linear driving mechanism provided on one side of the moving block and engaging with one side of the moving block to drive the moving blocks in opposite directions, For the liquid crystal panel, the linear drive mechanism is driven to move the pair of moving blocks inward. For the large-sized liquid crystal panel, the linear drive mechanism is driven to move the pair of moving blocks outward. Since it is possible to deal with this, it is possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel suction device that can prevent deterioration of the quality of liquid crystal equipment and increase the operating rate of the equipment.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
An LCD stage that is driven by multiple drive shafts and has a liquid crystal panel mounted on its upper surface, and a suction base that is fixed at its base end to pneumatic rotary joints that are equidistantly arranged on the outer periphery of this LCD stage and that adsorbs the liquid crystal panel at its tip. Part of the pneumatic stage, a drive ring provided on the outer periphery of the LCD stage and connected to the middle part of the pneumatic arm via a link, and the drive ring is swung to move the tip of the pneumatic arm. By providing a driving unit for swinging, for a small liquid crystal panel, the drive ring is driven in one direction to bring the tip of the pneumatic arm closer to the LCD stage, and for a large liquid crystal panel, Since it can be handled by driving the drive ring in the opposite direction and moving the tip of the pneumatic arm away from the LCD stage, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of the liquid crystal equipment and increase the operating rate of the equipment. To get Can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a first embodiment of a liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a second embodiment of the liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a partial plan view showing a third embodiment of the liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a partial plan view showing the operation of the third embodiment of the liquid crystal panel suction device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a conventional liquid crystal panel suction device.

6 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a conventional liquid crystal panel suction device different from FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B ... Liquid crystal panel, 2, 2A ... LCD stage,
3A, 3B ... Vacuum suction part, 4 ... Soft packing, 5A, 5
B ... Moving block, 6 ... Transfer arm, 7 ... Pneumatic joint, 8
… Bolts, 9… Through holes, 10… Pneumatic arms, 11… Pins, 12
…Link.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Ota No. 1 Toshiba-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Corporation Fuchu factory inside

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An LCD stage driven by a plurality of drive shafts and having a liquid crystal panel mounted on an upper surface thereof, linear drive mechanisms provided on both sides of the LCD stage, and an upper portion provided on a driven side of the linear drive mechanism. A suction device for a liquid crystal panel, comprising a pair of moving blocks, each of which is provided with a suction portion for sucking the liquid crystal panel, and which move in opposite directions, and a drive portion for driving the linear drive mechanism. 2. An LCD provided on the tip of an arm driven by a plurality of drive shafts and having a liquid crystal panel mounted on the upper surface thereof.
A stage; moving blocks provided on both sides of the LCD stage; and linear driving mechanisms provided on one side of the moving block and driving the moving blocks in opposite directions by engaging with one side of the moving block. Liquid crystal panel suction device. 3. An LCD stage driven by a plurality of drive shafts and having a liquid crystal panel mounted on the upper surface thereof, and a pneumatic rotary joint arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the LCD stage, the base end of which is fixed to the distal end of the LCD rotary joint. A pneumatic arm provided with a suction portion for attracting the liquid crystal panel, a drive ring provided on the outer periphery of the LCD stage and connected to an intermediate portion of the pneumatic arm via a link, and the drive ring is rocked. An adsorbing device for a liquid crystal panel, comprising a drive section for swinging the tip of the pneumatic arm.