Panel pickup and placing method and combined pickup device for performing the method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9168658-B2
Application number	US-201113381940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2011
Priority date	Dec 2, 2011
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

A panel pickup and placing method includes providing a liquid crystal panel, a machine table, a panel pickup device, and a vacuum suction device; coupling the panel pickup device and the vacuum suction device together; moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device engaging a surface of the liquid crystal panel; the vacuum suction device sucking and adhering to the liquid crystal panel; moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device lifting the liquid crystal panel for transfer to the machine table; the vacuum suction device releasing the liquid crystal panel; and moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device departing from the liquid crystal panel in order to position the liquid crystal panel on the machine table. The combined panel pickup device includes a panel pickup device and a vacuum suction device mounted to the panel pickup device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel pickup and placing method, comprising the following steps:
Step 1 : providing a liquid crystal panel that comprises a display zone and a non-display zone, a machine table, a panel pickup device, and a vacuum suction device that comprises a frame that is configured to correspond to a shape of the non-display zone of the liquid crystal panel and comprising two juxtaposed rectangles that are combined to form a frame configuration having four side frame members connected to each other and a central frame member substantially parallel to two opposite ones of the four side frame members and having two ends connected to the other two opposite ones of the four side frame members and a plurality of suction nozzles mounted to an undersurface of each of the four side frame members and the central frame member of the frame so as to achieve uniform application of force to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the panel pickup device comprises a device body and a panel pickup fork mounted to the device body, the panel pickup fork comprising a plurality of support sections and a connection section connecting to an end of the support sections, the connection section being mounted to the device body, the supporting sections being fixed to the frame of the vacuum suction device and substantially parallel to the central frame member of the frame;
Step 2 : coupling the panel pickup device and the vacuum suction device together;
Step 3 : moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device engaging a surface of the liquid crystal panel;
Step 4 : the vacuum suction device sucking and adhering to the liquid crystal panel;
Step 5 : moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device lifting the liquid crystal panel for transfer to the machine table;
Step 6 : the vacuum suction device releasing the liquid crystal panel; and
Step 7 : moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device departing from the liquid crystal panel in order to position the liquid crystal panel on the machine table.

2. The panel pickup and placing method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the machine table is a unitary work table.

3. The panel pickup and placing method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vacuum suction device comprises a control system in communication with the suction nozzles through air passages, the control system controlling the suction nozzles to carry out sucking and releasing operations, the suction nozzles functioning to suck and adhere to a liquid crystal panel and being uniformly distributed on the undersurface of the frame.

4. The panel pickup and placing method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the non-display zone of the liquid crystal panel is arranged to surround the display zone.

5. The panel pickup and placing method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein in Step 2 , the support sections of the panel pickup fork are coupled to the frame of the vacuum suction device by bolts to form a combined panel pickup device.

6. The panel pickup and placing method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein in Step 3 , the device body of the panel pickup device is manipulated to move the panel pickup fork for bringing the vacuum suction device to a location exactly above a surface of the liquid crystal panel and having the suction nozzles respectively engaging the surface of the liquid crystal panel; in Step 4 , the suction nozzles are controlled to carry out a sucking and adhering operation to have the suction nozzles adhered to the liquid crystal panel; in Step 5 , the device body of the panel pickup device is operated to move the panel pickup fork for bring the vacuum suction device and the liquid crystal panel adhered to the suction nozzles to be above the machine table; in Step 6 , the suction nozzles are controlled to carry out a releasing operation to release the suction nozzles from adhering to the liquid crystal panel; and in Step 7 , the device body of the panel pickup device is manipulated to move the panel pickup fork for moving the vacuum suction device from the machine table thereby leaving the liquid crystal panel on the machine table.

7. A combined panel pickup device comprising a panel pickup device and a vacuum suction device mounted to the panel pickup device for picking up a liquid crystal panel, the vacuum suction device comprising a frame that is configured to correspond to a shape of a non-display zone of the liquid crystal panel and comprising two juxtaposed rectangles that are combined to form a frame configuration having four side frame members connected to each other and a central frame member substantially parallel to two opposite ones of the four side frame members and having two ends connected to the other two opposite ones of the four side frame members and a plurality of suction nozzles mounted to an undersurface of each of the four side frame members and the central frame member of the frame so as to achieve uniform application of force to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the panel pickup device comprises a device body and a panel pickup fork mounted to the device body, the panel pickup fork comprising a plurality of support sections and a connection section connecting to an end of the support sections, the connection section being mounted to the device body, the supporting sections being fixed to the frame of the vacuum suction device and substantially parallel to the central frame member of the frame.

8. The combined panel pickup device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the vacuum suction device comprises a control system in communication with the suction nozzles through air passages, the control system controlling the suction nozzles to carry out sucking and releasing operations, the suction nozzles functioning to suck and adhere to a liquid crystal panel for picking up the liquid crystal panel and being uniformly distributed on the undersurface of the frame, the support sections of the panel pickup fork being coupled to the frame of the vacuum suction device by bolts.

Assignees

• Yin Fengming
• Chiang Wenpin
• Yin Chonghui
• Shenzhen China Star Optoelect

Inventors

• Yin Fengming
• Chiang Wenpin
• Yin Chonghui

Classifications

• H10P72/78

  using vacuum or suction, e.g. Bernoulli chucks · CPC title

• Y10S414/141

  includes means for gripping wafer · CPC title

• B65G49/061 Primary

  Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066) · CPC title

• H01L21/6838

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B65G2249/04

  Arrangements of vacuum systems or suction cups · CPC title