Patent Publication Number: US-2013236282-A1

Title: Transferring apparatus for liquid crystal panel

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to transferring apparatus, and particularly, to a transferring apparatus for transferring a liquid crystal panel. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In assembling process of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a liquid crystal panel is often needed to be transferred between two adjacent assembling machines such that the liquid crystal panel can be assembled with other components of the LCD. Generally, in the process, the liquid crystal panel is placed on a conveyor disposed between the two adjacent assembling machines. Or sometimes, when the two assembling machines are close enough to each other, operators may transfer the liquid crystal panel by hand. However, with the development of the manufacturing technology of the LCD, the size of the liquid crystal panel has become larger and larger and a thickness thereof has become smaller and smaller, which may easily result in damage to the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is transferred by the conveyor or by hand. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     One object of the present disclosure is to provide a transferring apparatus for carrying and transferring a liquid crystal pane. The transferring apparatus includes a main body, at least two suction cups, and a vacuum generating device. The main body is used for supporting the liquid crystal panel, and includes two connection rods facing each other. The at least two suction cups are respectively slidably disposed on the two connection rods. The vacuum generating device is disposed in the main body and communicating with the at least two suction cups, and is configured for generating and providing negative-pressure gas when the at least two suction cups contact the liquid crystal panel so that the at least two suction cups can be adhered to the liquid crystal panel stably. 
     Preferably, a sliding slot is defined in each of the connection rods, and each suction cup includes a connection member slidably disposed in the corresponding sliding slot. 
     Preferably, each connection rod includes a side facing the liquid crystal panel and defining the corresponding sliding slot. 
     Preferably, the connection member is substantially Z-shaped. 
     Preferably, each of the at least two suction cups further includes a suction portion and a connection shaft, the suction portion contacts the liquid crystal panel, and the connection shaft connects the suction portion and the connection member. 
     Preferably, the connection shaft is made of elastic material. 
     Preferably, the vacuum generating device includes a vacuum generator for providing the negative-pressure gas and a gas storage tank for storing the negative-pressure gas. 
     Preferably, the vacuum generating device further includes a detector, and the detector is disposed in the vacuum generator for detecting a gas pressure of the negative-pressure gas provided by the vacuum generator and displaying the detected value. 
     Preferably, the main body further includes at least one connection arm for connecting the two connection rods, the transferring apparatus further includes a handle disposed on the at least one connection arm. 
     Preferably, the main body is made of aluminum. 
     The present disclosure further provides another transferring apparatus. The transferring apparatus includes a main body, at least one suction cup, and a vacuum generating device. The main body is used for supporting a to-be-transferred object. The at least one suction cup is disposed in the main body and is adhered to the to-be-transferred object. The vacuum generating device is disposed in the main body and communicates with the at least one suction cup for generating negative-pressure gas when the at least one suction cup contacts the to-be-transferred object to allow the at least one suction cup to be adhered to to-be-transferred object. 
     Preferably, the at least one suction cup is slidably disposed in the main body. 
     Preferably, the main body defines at least one sliding slot, and each suction cup includes a connection member slidably disposed in the corresponding sliding slot. 
     Preferably, the main body includes a frame and at least one connection arm disposed on an inner side of the frame. 
     Preferably, the frame includes two first connection rods and two second connection rods, the two first connection rods face each other and are parallel with each other, each of the first connection rods includes a first side facing the other first connection rod and a second side perpendicularly connected to the first side and facing the to-be-transferred object; the two second connection rods face each other and are respectively connected to the first connection rods, and the sliding slot is defined in the second side of the corresponding first connection rod. 
     Preferably, the connection member is substantially Z-shaped. 
     Preferably, each suction cup includes a suction portion and a connection shaft, the suction portion is configured to contact the to-be-transferred object, and the connection shaft connects the suction portion and the connection member. 
     Preferably, the vacuum generating device includes a vacuum generator for providing the negative-pressure gas and a gas storage tank for storing the negative-pressure gas. 
     Preferably, the vacuum generating device further includes a detector, and the detector is disposed in the vacuum generator for detecting a gas pressure of the negative-pressure gas provided by the vacuum generator and displaying the detected value. 
     Preferably, the to-be-transferred object is liquid crystal panel. 
     With the vacuum generating device for supplying negative-pressure gas, the suction portion of each suction cup is capable of being adhered to the liquid crystal panel tightly, thus, the transferring apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of carrying and transferring the liquid crystal panel stably after the liquid crystal panel contacts the suction cups. In this way, damage to the liquid crystal panel can be avoided somewhat. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily dawns to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a transferring apparatus in one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is schematic view showing how the transferring apparatus is used. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment is this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a transferring apparatus  10 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown. In an embodiment, the transferring apparatus  10  is used for transferring a liquid crystal panel so that the liquid crystal panel can be transferred between two adjacent assembling machines in the production line of a liquid crystal display (LCD). In other embodiments, the transferring apparatus  10  may be used for transferring other objects of appropriate weight or sizes. The transferring apparatus  10  includes a main body  100 , five suction cups  200 , a vacuum generating device  300 , and two handles  400 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the main body  100  is used for supporting the liquid crystal panel and other components of the transferring apparatus  10 . In some embodiments, the main body  100  includes a frame  110  and three connection arms  120  disposed on inner sides of the frame  110 . The frame  110  includes two first connection rods  111  and two second connection rods  112 . The two first connection rods  111  face each other and are parallel with each other. Each of the first connection rods  111  includes a first side  113  and a second side  114 . The first side  113  faces the other connection rod  111 . The second side  114  perpendicularly extends from the first side  113  and faces the liquid crystal panel. The second side  114  is recessed to define a sliding slot  115 . The two second connection rods  112  are also configured to face each other and are respectively connected to the two first connection rods  111  to form the frame  110 . Two ends of each connection arm  120  are respectively connected to the two first sides  113  of the two first connection rods  111 . 
     The suction cups  200  are disposed on the main body  100  for sucking the liquid crystal panel and thus allowing the movement of the liquid crystal panel together with the transferring apparatus  10 . In some embodiments, four of the five suction cups  200  are symmetrically respectively disposed on the two first connection rods  111 , and the other one is disposed on one of the connection arms  120  such as the middle connection arm  120  in some embodiments. Each suction cup  200  includes a suction portion  210 , a connection member  220 , and a connection shaft  230 . 
     The suction portion  210  is substantially funnel-shaped and is configured for being adhered to the liquid crystal panel. The connection member  220  is substantially Z-shaped, and includes an engaging portion  221  and an extending portion  222 . The engaging portion  221  is substantially L-shaped and is capable of sliding in the corresponding sliding slot  115 . The extending portion  222  extends from the engaging portion  221  and is substantially plate-shaped. The connection shaft  230  connects the suction portion  210  with the connection member  220 , and one end thereof passes through and extends out the corresponding connection member  220 . In some embodiments, the connection shaft  230  may be substantially cylindrical and is made of elastic material. In the assembly process, the engaging portion  221  of each suction cup  200  is clamped in the corresponding sliding slot  115 , and one end of the corresponding connection shaft  230  away from the suction portion  210  passes through the hole (not shown) defined in the extending portion  222 . The connection shaft  230  then can be screwed to the connection member  220  in rotation, thereby mounting each suction cup  220  to the main body  100 . 
     The vacuum generating device  300  is mounted in the main body  100  and connected to the suction cups  200 . The vacuum generating device  300  is used for providing a negative-pressure gas condition in a space enclosed by each suction portion  210  and the liquid crystal panel, which keeps the corresponding suction cup  200  adhered to the liquid crystal panel. Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in some embodiments, the vacuum generating device  300  includes a vacuum generator  310 , a gas storage tank  320 , a detector  330 , a first gas pipe  340 , a first valve  350 , a second gas pipe  360 , and a second valve  370 . 
     The vacuum generator  310  is used to generate negative-pressure gas. The gas storage tank  320  is used for storing the negative-pressure gas generated by the vacuum generator  310 . The gas storage tank  320  communicates with the vacuum generator  310  through the first gas pipe  340 , and communicates with the each suction portion  310  through the second gas pipe  360 . The second gas pipe  360  is partly received in the connection shaft  230 . In operation, after the negative-pressure gas is stored in the gas storage tank  320 , the first valve  340  is closed and the second valve  360  is opened. Thus, the negative-pressure gas stored in the gas storage tank  320  can be supplied to the space defined by each suction portion  210  and the liquid crystal panel through the second gas pipe  360 , which makes the gas pressure in the space be lower than atmosphere pressure, and thus allows the corresponding suction cup  200  to be adhered to the liquid crystal panel. The detector  330  is configured in the vacuum generator  310  for detecting the vacuum degree, that is, the gas pressure in the vacuum generator  310  and displaying the detected vacuum degree. In some embodiments, the detector  330  includes a display  331  disposed in the gas storage tank  320  for displaying the detected vacuum degree. The first valve  350  is disposed in the first gas pipe  340  for controlling on and off of the first gas pipe  340 , and the second valve  370  is disposed in the second gas pipe  360  for controlling on and off of the second gas pipe  360 . 
     The two handles  400  are respectively disposed on the connection arms  120  of the main body  100 . Users can grasp the handles  400  when moving the transferring apparatus  10 . In the embodiments, each handle  400  is disposed on a side of the corresponding connection arm  120  which face the second side  114  of the first connection rod  111 . 
     In operation, the vacuum generator  310  can be turned on and the first valve  350  can be opened at first. The vacuum generator  310  generates negative-pressure gas which flows into the gas storage tank  320  through the first gas pipe  340  for storage. During the process of generating the negative-pressure gas, the detector  330  detects the gas pressure in the first gas pipe  340  and the display  331  displays the detected gas pressure. Users can determine the vacuum degree in the first gas pipe  340  via the display  331  and turns off the vacuum generator  310  when the vacuum degree reaches the predetermined value. The liquid crystal panel then can be placed on the transferring apparatus  10  with the suction portions  210  of the suction cups  200  contacting the liquid crystal panel. At this time, the second valve  370  can be opened to allow the space enclosed by the corresponding suction portion  210  and the liquid crystal panel to communicate with the gas storage tank  320 . The negative-pressure gas thus is supplied to the space enclosed by each suction portion  210  and the liquid crystal panel. Since the gas pressure in the gas storage tank  320  is lower than atmosphere pressure, therefore, the suction cups  200  are capable of being adhered to the liquid crystal panel tightly under the pressure difference therebetween. At this time, the liquid crystal panel can be transferred stably and safely. After the liquid crystal panel is transferred to a predetermined location, the second valve  370  can be closed to allow air in the atmosphere to flow into the space, allowing the liquid crystal panel to be separated from the transferring apparatus  10  easily. 
     It is understood that in some embodiments, the main body  100  may be made of lightweight material such as aluminum. 
     It is understood that the main body  100  is not limited to this embodiment. In other embodiments, the main body  100  can be configured with the omission of the second connection rods  112 . Similarly, the first connection rod  111  and the connection arm  120  are not limited to the embodiment, for example, the length of the first connection rod  111  can be adjusted according to different requirements, and the number of the connection arm  120  can be different according to the size or the weight of the to-be-transferred liquid crystal panel. 
     It is understood that the suction cup  200  can be slidably disposed or fixed in the middle connection arm  120 . 
     It is understood that number of the suction cup  200  is not limited to the embodiment. In other embodiments, the number of the suction cup  200  can be adjusted according to the to-be-transferred liquid crystal panel. For example, the number of the suction cup  200  can be reduced when the liquid crystal panel to be transferred is relatively small and can be increased when the liquid crystal panel to be transferred can bear large adhered force from the suction cup  200 . 
     It is understood that since each engaging portion  221  is slidably engaging with the corresponding sliding slot  115 , therefore, an outer force can be applied to the connection member  220  to make the connection member  220  to slide in corresponding sliding slot  115  to adjust the position of the corresponding suction cup  200 , which finally allows the transferring apparatus  10  to transfer liquid crystal panels of different sizes. 
     With the vacuum generating device  300 , the suction portion  210  of each suction cup  200  is capable of being adhered to the liquid crystal panel tightly, thus, the transferring apparatus  10  of the present disclosure is capable of carrying and transferring the liquid crystal panel stably after the liquid crystal panel contacts the suction cups  200 . Thus, damage to the liquid crystal panel can be avoided somewhat. Additionally, since the connection shaft  230  is made of elastic material, when the suction cup  200  is adhered to the liquid crystal panel, the connection shaft  230  can buffer the effect from the adhering force from affecting the liquid crystal panel, which can further prevent the liquid crystal panel from being damaged. 
     Even though information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the mechanisms and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extend indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.