Patent Publication Number: US-2007095703-A1

Title: Packing apparatus with internal partition layer

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to packing apparatuses, and more particularly to a packing apparatus typically used for storing and transporting glass substrates.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) generally includes two glass substrates as bases for supporting other components thereon. The other components can include, for example, thin film transistors, integrated circuits, and a color filter. Each glass substrate is fragile and can be damaged easily by an external impact, static electricity or contamination during transportation or operation.  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , a conventional packing apparatus  10  includes a main body  120  and a cover  110 . The main body  120  includes a plurality of grooves  130  at two opposite inner sides thereof. The cover  110  is detachably engaged with the main body  120 , and cooperates with the main body  120  to form a receiving space. A plurality of glass substrates is received within the receiving space and secured in the grooves  130  of the main body  120  during transportation. The main body  120  and cover  110  are made from foam resin.  
      The grooves  130  basically only function to secure the glass substrates in the packing apparatus  10 . In general, the packing apparatus  10  has no particular buffering (or cushioning) capability, nor provides any protection from buildup of static electricity that may discharge and damage the glass substrates.  
      Accordingly, what is needed is a packing apparatus configured to be able to provide buffering (or cushioning) and/or protection from the risks of static electricity.  
     SUMMARY  
      An exemplary packing apparatus includes a main body, a cover, and at least one partition layer. The cover is configured to be attached to the main body and cooperatively forms a receiving space with the main body. The at least one partition layer is received in the receiving space.  
      The packing apparatus further comprises a protection film received within the receiving space.  
      A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings, all the views are schematic.  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a packing apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, together with a glass substrate between partition layers of the packing apparatus, but not showing binding belts of the packing apparatus.  
       FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the packing apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the binding belts thereof in phantom.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of a packing apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, together with a glass substrate between partition layers of the packing apparatus, but not showing binding belts of the packing apparatus, and showing a protection film of the packing apparatus in a flat state.  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the protection film of  FIG. 3  shown in a bent state ready for use.  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded, isometric view of a partition layer of a packing apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, together with two glass substrates above and below the partition layer respectively.  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the packing apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, showing binding belts thereof in phantom.  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded, isometric view of a packing apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, together with a glass substrate between partition layers of the packing apparatus, but not showing binding belts of the packing apparatus.  
       FIG. 8  is an isometric, bottom view of a main body of the packing apparatus of  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  is an assembled, isometric view of the packing apparatus of  FIG. 7 , showing the binding belts thereof in phantom.  
       FIG. 10  is an isometric, cutaway view of a conventional packing apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a packing apparatus  2  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a box  20 , a plurality of partition layers  212 , and two binding belts  204 . The box  20  includes a cover  202  and a main body  201 . The cover  202  and main body  201  are engaged together, thereby forming a receiving space receiving the substrate package  21  therein. The cover  202  includes four outer side walls  2023 , four inner side walls  2021  of lesser height than the outer side walls  2023 , and a top part  2022  substantially perpendicular to the inner side walls  2021 . The main body  201  includes four outer side walls  2013 , four inner side walls  2011  protruding higher than the outer side walls  2013 , and a base part  2012  substantially perpendicular to the inner side walls  2011 . The inner side walls  2011  correspond in position to the inner side walls  2021  of the cover  202 .  
      The top and base parts  2022 ,  2012  respectively include a plurality of substantially rectangular recessed structures (not labeled), each having a thickness configured in the range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. The recessed structures are for increasing the buffering (or cushioning) capacity of the top and base parts  2022 ,  2012 . Two of opposite long outer side walls  2023  and an outer portion of the top part  2022  of the cover  202  cooperatively form a pair of parallel, U-shaped channels  205  respectively. Two of opposite long outer side walls  2013  and an outer portion of the bottom part  2012  of the main body  201  cooperatively form another pair of parallel, U-shaped channels  205  respectively. When the cover  202  is attached on the main body  201 , the inner side walls  2011  of the main body  201  abut the inner side walls  2021  of the cover  202 . The cover  202  and the main body  201  are secured together by the binding belts  204 , which are arranged in the channels  205  of the cover  202  and the main body  201 .  
      In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of partition layers  212  is two partition layers  212 . A glass substrate  211  is interlaid between the partition layers  212 , and the combination of the glass substrate  211  and the partition layers  212  is referred to herein as a substrate package  21 . Each of the partition layers  212  includes a plurality of concave and convex structures (not labeled) at major surfaces thereof. This configuration increases the buffering (or cushioning) capacity of the partition layer  212 . Further, air can flow between the glass substrate  211  and the partition layers  212 , thereby avoiding cracking of the glass substrate  211  due to air pressure between the partition layers  212 . The size of each partition layer  212  substantially matches that of the glass substrate  211 . The partition layer  212  is substantially frame-shaped, with an opening (not labeled) at the center. The partition layers  212  are made from toxic-free material, for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE has good anti-static electricity capability. A density of HDPE is relative low, for example, around 0.995 kilograms per cubic centimeter.  
      The inner side walls  2021  of the cover  202  define four holes  2014  at junctions therebetween respectively. The inner side walls  2011  of the main body  201  define four holes  2014  at junctions therebetween respectively. The holes  2014  enable the inner side walls  2021 ,  2011  to expand or contract slightly without bending or deforming. Thereby, friction between edges of the glass substrate  211  and the cover and main bodies  202 ,  201  is avoided. The box  20  is made from forming resin doped with conductive polymer. The forming resin doped with conductive polymer can, for example, include high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyurethane. Thereby, the box  20  can have electrical resistance of about 103 to 1012 ohms per centimeter, thereby helping prevent any buildup of static electricity that may damage the glass substrate  211 . The forming resin is fabricated by expansion forming, whereby a size of the finished forming resin is 3 to 30 times its original size. This process can be performed by way of heating up the forming resin within a mold, or a low pressure forming process can be employed. A thickness of various portions of the cover  202  and the main body  201  is configured to be in the range from 15 mm to 100 mm.  
      The glass substrate  211  is received within the box  20  by the following process. Firstly, the bottom partition layer  212  is arranged on the base part  2012  of the main body  201 . Then, the glass substrate  211  is arranged on that partition layer  212 . Then, the top partition layer  212  is arranged on the glass substrate  211 , thereby attaining the substrate package  21  within the main body  201 . Secondly, the cover  202  is attached to the main body  201 . If the number of glass substrates  211  is n, the preferred number of partition layers  212  is n+1. Fillers (not shown) can be provided for filling gaps between the glass substrate  211  and portions of the box  20 , whereby shaking of the glass substrate  211  is avoided.  
      In various alternative embodiments, there can be fewer or more channels  205  than those described above, according to the particular binding capability required in a given application. If the glass substrate  211  is relatively small and appropriately sized, it can be arranged within the opening of one or more of the partition layers  212 . The partition layers  212  can be substantially rectangular panels without openings. The top and base parts  2022 ,  2012  can include a plurality of concave and convex structures of various kinds, in order to provide further buffering (or cushioning) capacity.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , this shows an exploded, isometric view of a packing apparatus  3  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The packing apparatus  3  of the second embodiment is similar to the above-described first embodiment. However, the packing apparatus  3  further includes a protection film  303 . The packing apparatus  3  includes a cover  302 , a main body  301 , a plurality of partition layers  312 , the protection film  303 , and two binding belts (not shown). A substrate package  31  includes the two partition layers  312 , and a glass substrate  311  interlaid between the partition layers  312 . The cover and main bodies  302 ,  301  are engaged together, thereby forming a receiving space receiving the substrate package  31  and the protection film  303  therein.  
      Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the protection film  303  includes a base part  3032  and six extending parts  3031  bent perpendicularly from the base part  3032  at six bending lines  3033  respectively. The protection film  303  is preferably made from high-density polyethylene doped with conductive polymer or an anti-static electricity material. Thereby, the protection film  303  has an electrical resistance around 109 to 1012 ohm per centimeter. A size of the base part  3032  of the protection film  303  substantially matches that of a base part (not labeled) of the main body  301 . The bent extending parts  3031  isolate the substrate package  31  from the cover  302  and main body  301 , thereby helping prevent debris or other unwanted matter from contaminating the glass substrate  311 .  
      Typically, by adopting the protection film  303 , the anti-static electricity capacity of the packing apparatus  3  can be extended from a normal lifetime of 1 year to about 3 years. The lifespan of the protection film  303  itself is about 2 years. Therefore an aging protection film  303  can be replaced with a new protection film  303  once the anti-static electricity capability of the aging protection film  303  has declined.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a packing apparatus  3 ′ in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the above-described second embodiment. However, the packing apparatus  3 ′ includes only one partition layer  312 , in order to decrease a size of a box  30 .  
      In particular, a substrate package  32  of the packing apparatus  3 ′ includes two glass substrates  311 , and the single partition layer  312  interlaid between the glass substrates  311 . The substrate package  32  is received within a main body  301  of the packing apparatus  3 ′. If the number of glass substrates  311  is n (wherein n is greater than or equal to 2), the preferred number of partition layers  312  is n−1.  
      The packing apparatus  3 ′ includes the box  30 , and two binding belts  304 . The box  30  includes the cover  302  and the main body  301 , and two parallel, U-shaped channels  305  at each of the cover  302  and the main body  301 . The cover  302  and the main body  301  are engaged together, thereby forming a receiving space (not shown) receiving the substrate package  32  therein. The cover  302  and the main body  301  are secured together by the binding belts  304 , which are arranged in the channels  305  of the cover  302  and the main body  301 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , this shows a packing apparatus  4  in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The packing apparatus  4  of the fourth embodiment is similar to the above-described second embodiment. However, the packing apparatus  4  includes two main bodies  401 .  
      The packing apparatus  4  includes a box  40 , a plurality of partition layers  412 , a pair of protection films  403  (only one visible), and two binding belts  404 . The box  40  includes a cover  402  and the two main bodies  401 . The cover  402  and the two main bodies  401  are engaged together, thereby forming two receiving spaces. Each receiving space receives a respective substrate package  41  (only one visible) and a respective one of the protection films  403  therein. The cover  402  includes a top part  4022 . Each of the main bodies  401  includes four outer side walls  4013 , four inner side walls  4011  protruding higher than the outer side walls  4013 , a base part  4012  substantially perpendicular to the inner side walls  4011 , and a peripheral trench  4014  at an outer surface portion of the base part  4012  corresponding in position according to the inner side walls  4011 . Each substrate package  41  includes two corresponding partition layers  412 , and a respective glass substrate  411  interlaid between the partition layers  412 .  
      The cover  402  and the main body  401  each include two parallel, U-shaped channels  405 . The inner side walls  4011  of the bottom main body  401  are engaged in the trench  4014  of the top main body  401 . Then the cover  402  and main bodies  401  are secured together by the binding belts  404 , which are arranged in the channels  405  of the cover  402  and the main bodies  401 .  
      While various embodiments have been described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, the above description is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.