Patent Publication Number: US-2013251492-A1

Title: Transferring Apparatus for Glass Substrate

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly, to a transferring apparatus for a glass substrate. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the existing technology of making a liquid crystal display, a glass substrate has to be transferred from a cartridge, on which a plurality of glass substrates are juxtaposed or piled up, to a production line in which a plurality of different processes are performed on the glass substrate so as to complete a panel. However, the thickness of the glass substrate is merely about 0.4 to 0.7 mm, and it is very brittle to crack. As a result, a check up process has to be performed during the transferring of the glass substrate onto the production line. 
     Currently, once a damage or defective is found on the glass substrate during transferring, the cartridge has to be moved onto a carrier manually. Then, an evaluation will be conducted so as to determine how to best utilize the glass substrate based on the position of the damage or defective. In general, a small recycle tray is placed onto the insulating plate, and then a scissor is used to cut the glass substrate into a plurality of small pieces for other applications. Then, those small sized glass substrates are collected into the recycle tray. Then, a glass substrate under the damaged glass substrate is exposed, and will be vacuumed and wiped with dust-free cloth so as to make sure there is no debris left over. The recycle tray is then moved to a bigger recycle box in which all the small sized glass substrate are stocked. 
     An extensive laborious works have to be involved, and in addition, it takes a lot of time. On the other hand, when the damaged or defective glass substrate is cut with scissor, the other glass substrate can be readily damaged, creating unnecessary second damages to the glass substrate. 
     It is therefore a necessity to provide a pickup device for transferring the glass substrate so as to resolve the current issues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a transferring apparatus so as to resolve a technical issue in manufacturing a liquid crystal display. A damaged glass substrate or its debris can be readily and conveniently removed out of a cartridge in which the glass substrates are stored. 
     Accordingly, a transferring apparatus is provided for transferring a glass substrate out from a cartridge in which the glass substrate is stored, or removal of debris of damaged glass substrate. The apparatus comprises a chassis. A conveying device is provided and includes a frame a plurality of transferring rods which are located at a common plane, and vertically arranged and spaced over the frame. A first driving device is disposed on the chassis and interlinked to the plurality of rods. Wherein the driving device moves the plurality of rods horizontally along a first horizontal direction such that the plurality of rods are moved in and out of a cartridge on which glass substrates are carried along the first horizontal direction, the driving device further rotating each of the transferring rods centered on its own axis. 
     Wherein the conveying device is configured with first and second frames arranged on each side, and each of the first and second frame is arranged with the plurality of transferring rods directed toward each other. 
     Wherein the conveying device further includes a plurality of rollers disposed on the transferring rods, and rotated synchronically with the transferring rods. 
     Wherein the frame further includes a transaxle disposed along a longitudinally along the first frame, the transaxle is provided with a plurality of first driving gears with respect to each of the transferring rods, each of the transferring rods is provided with a second follower gear meshed with the first driving gear, the follower gears are driven by the first driving gears so as to rotate the transferring rods. 
     Wherein the transferring apparatus further includes a collecting device disposed securely on the first frame and located adjacent to the conveying device, the collecting device is used to collect a damaged glass substrate or debris of glass substrate. 
     Wherein the collecting device further includes a plurality of rollers, which is located above the collecting device and are rotated with respect to the collecting device. 
     Wherein the transferring apparatus further includes a second driving device, with the driving power from the second driving device, the conveying device, the first driving device and the collecting device are moved vertically with respect to the chassis. 
     Wherein the first driving device further drives the transferring rods to flip over the collecting device and sits onto the collecting device. 
     Wherein the transferring apparatus further includes an automatic holding device which can securely get hold of the cartridge which is moved in or out from the first horizontal direction and a second horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction so as to transfer the defective glass substrate our of the cartridge of the glass substrate. 
     Wherein the automatic holding device further includes a first slide disposed on the chassis and which can slide on the chassis along the first horizontal direction, and a second slide moveably disposed on the first slide along the second horizontal direction. 
     Wherein the automatic holding device includes a pickup arm, and nozzle or tweezers disposed onto the pickup arm. 
     Wherein the collecting device includes a plurality of supporting rods alternatively arranged, the supporting rods defines slots allowing passing of the first and second slides, wherein the top surface of the second slide is lower then a top surface of the supporting rods. 
     Wherein a third driving device is provided to power the automatic holding device. 
     According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a transferring apparatus for transferring damaged glass substrate or debris from a cartridge is provided and it comprises a chassis, and a conveying device configured with first and second frames. A plurality of first and second transferring rods are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the frames, and each of the first and second transferring rods is spaced from each other. A first driving device is disposed on the chassis and interlinked to the transferring rods with both ends. Each of the first and second transferring rods is directed toward to face each other. A collecting device is disposed on the chassis and located adjacent to the conveying device. Wherein the first driving device drives the first and second frames along the horizontal direction such that the transferring rods moves in or out of the cartridge, the first driving device further drives the first and second transferring rods to rotate centered on its own axis. 
     Wherein the conveying device further includes rollers disposed on the first and second transferring rods, and which are synchronically rotated with respect to the transferring rods. 
     Wherein the frame further includes a transaxle disposed along a longitudinally along the frame, the transaxle is provided with a plurality of first driving gears with respect to each of the first and second transferring rods, each of the first and second transferring rods is provided with a second follower gear meshed with the first driving gear, the follower gears are driven by the first driving gears so as to rotate the first and second transferring rods. 
     Wherein the collecting device further includes a plurality of rollers, which is located above the collecting device and are rotated with respect to the collecting device. 
     Wherein the transferring apparatus further includes a second driving device, with the driving power from the second driving device, the conveying device, the first driving device and the collecting device are moved vertically with respect to the chassis. 
     Wherein the automatic holding device further includes a first slide disposed on the chassis and which can slide on the chassis along the first horizontal direction, and a second slide moveably disposed on the first slide along the second horizontal direction, wherein the automatic holding device includes a pickup arm, and nozzle or tweezers disposed onto the pickup arm. 
     The advantages of the present invention is the transferring apparatus can readily access to the cartridge so as to remove the damaged glass substrate or its debris in a single operation which is far to reach by the existing technology. Accordingly, the transferring apparatus can be fully automatic with shortened cycle time, while entertains great efficiency. On top of that, those undamaged and intact glass substrate located around will not be damaged accidentally by the removal of the damaged glass substrate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a main illustrational view of a transferring apparatus for glass substrate made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a main illustrational view of an automatic holding device of the transferring apparatus for glass substrate; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the automatic holding device shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion C of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a transferring apparatus  100  made in accordance with the preferred embodiment for removing a damaged glass substrate  70  or debris (not shown) from a cartridge  60  is disclosed. The transferring apparatus  100  is configured with a chassis  10 , a conveying device  20 , a first driving device  30 , a collecting device  40 , an automatic holding device  50 , a second driving device (not shown in these Figures), and a third driving device (not shown in these Figures) 
     The chassis  10  is disposed on the bottom of the transferring apparatus  100 , and which is used to support the other parts. In the preferable embodiment, the chassis  10  is a disk-like plate. In order for easily moving of the chassis  10 , the chassis  10  can be installed with casters (not shown) such that the chassis  10  can be moved to the place as required. In the field application, the chassis  10  can be replaced with other structure. 
     The first driving device  30  is installed onto the chassis  10 , and is interconnected with the conveying device  20 . In this embodiment, the first driving device  30  is a spring  31  and a cylinder  32 . 
     The conveying device  20  includes a first and second frame  21  and a plurality of transferring rods  22  disposed on the transferring rods  21 . Each of the transferring rods  22  is incorporated with a roller  23 . The first and second frame  21  each interconnected to the ends of the cylinder  32  of the first driving device  30 . Basically, the first and second frames  21  are symmetrically arranged centered on the first driving device  30 . The transferring rods  22  are perpendicularly arranged with respect to the first and second frames  21 , and all the transferring rods  22  are located on a common plane. The transferring rods  22  are spaced from each other along the first and second frames  21 . The transferring rods  22  are pointed toward each other as they are arranged on the first and second frames  21 . Each of the transferring rods  22  is provided with a pair of rollers  23  such that the rollers  23  are synchronically rotated with respect to the transferring rods  22 . 
     The frame  21  further includes a transaxle  24  along its longitudinal direction. The transaxle  24  is provided with a first driving gear  25  with respect to each of the transferring rods  22 . Each of the transferring rods  22  is also provided with a follower gear  26  meshed with the first driving gear  25 . 
     The collecting device  40  is securely attached to the chassis  10 , and is located adjacent to the conveying device  20 . The collecting device  40  includes a plurality of supporting rods  42 . The supporting rods  42  are perpendicularly arranged with respect to the transferring rods  22 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a plurality of rollers  41  are arranged and projected over a top surface of the supporting rods  42 . The rollers  41  can roll freely with respect to the supporting rods  42 . When the supporting rods  42  are inserted into the cartridge  60 , its level is flushed to the transferring rods  22 , or a little bit lower than the transferring rods  22 . The rollers  23  are flushed to the roller  41  or slightly higher. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the automatic holding device  50  is disposed on the chassis  10 , and it is configured with a first slide  51  moveably along a first horizontal direction X. A second slide  52  is moveably disposed on the first slide  51 , and which can be moved along the first horizontal direction X and a second horizontal direction Y which is perpendicular to the first direction X. An arm  53  is disposed on the second slide  52 , and a tweezers or nozzle  54  is disposed on the arm  53 . 
     The trace of the first slide  51  along the first horizontal direction is limited by the first track  55 . The trace of the second slide  52  along the second horizontal direction Y is limited by the first slide  51 . The first track  55  is installed onto the chassis  10 . The first slide  51  and the second slide  52  moveably mounted thereon can move along the first horizontal direction X along the first track  55 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the collecting device  40  further includes a slot  43  to allow the passing through of the first and second slides  51 ,  52 . 
     Portion of the first track  55  is located within the slot  43  of the collecting device  40 . When the first slide  51  and the second slide  52  move jointly within the first track  55  along the first horizontal direction X, the first slide  51  and the second slide  52  can move freely within the slot  43 , and the space between two adjacent supporting rods  42 . By this arrangement, the top surface of the second slide  52  will not be higher than the top surface of the supporting rods  42 . As a result, when the glass substrate  70  or its debris is moved out of the cartridge, their transfer will not be hindered. 
     When the second slide  52  is located within the space between two adjacent supporting rods  42 , the second slide  52  can move along the second horizontal direction Y on top of the first slide  51 . When the second slide  52  is located within the slot  43  of the supporting rods  42 , the second slide  52  is prohibited from moving along the second horizontal direction Y on the first slide  51 . 
     The arm  53  is raised higher than the top surface of the supporting rods  42 . Accordingly, by the sliding movement of the first slide  51  and the second slide  52 , the tweezers  54  of the automatic holding device  50  can move in or move out of the cartridge  60  along the first horizontal direction X and the second horizontal direction Y. As a result, most of the debris in the cartridge  60  can be readily removed. The sliding movement of the first slide  51  and the second slide  52  is powered by the third driving device. 
     The conveying device  20 , the first driving device  30 , the collecting device  30 , and the automatic holding device  50  can be moved vertically with respect to the chassis  10  as it is powered by the second driving device. 
     In operation, the first and second frame  21  is moved along the first horizontal direction X by the first driving device  30  such that the span between the first and second frames  21  can be widened or narrowed. Accordingly, the purpose of moving the transferring rods  22  of the frames  21  into the cartridge  60  and moving out of the damaged glass substrate along the first horizontal direction X can be successfully achieved. 
     When the transferring rods  22  are moved into the cartridge  60 , the transferring rods  22  are further raised by the second driving device. As a result, the rollers  23  of the transferring rods  22  can jack up the damaged glass substrate  70  or its debris. Meanwhile, the first driving device  30  is further triggered to rotate the transaxle  24  such that the transferring rods  22  are rotated by the meshed movement of the first driving gear  25  on the transaxle  24 , and the follower gear  26  on the transferring rods  22 . By this joint movement and coordination of these devices, the glass substrate  70  or the debris can be readily moved out of the cartridge  70  by the roller  23 . 
     After the damaged glass substrate  70  or the large debris is removed out of the cartridge  60  by the transferring rods  22 , the damaged glass substrate  70  is further supported by the supporting rods  42  of the collecting device  40 . Once the rollers  41  on the supporting rods  42  are rotated, the damaged glass substrate  70  or the large debris can be completely moved out. In order to further limit the impact to the environment, the collecting device  40  can be readily covered with a layer of insulator (not shown). As a result, the damaged glass substrate  70  or its large debris can be completely isolated without pollute the environment. 
     When the conveying device  20  is moving the glass substrate  70  or its debris out of the cartridge  60 , the first slide  51  and the second slide  52  are located and position on a side of the collecting device  40 . By this arrangement, the tweezers  54  of the arm  53  located on the second slide  52  will be out of the moving track of the glass substrate  70  or its debris when it is moved out of the cartridge  60 . 
     When the debris of the glass substrate is removed out from the cartridge  60  by means of the transferring apparatus  100 , the devices involved can completely remove the debris out of the cartridge  60 . If there is still some small debris of the damaged glass substrate located within the cartridge  60 , then the automatic holding device  50  powered by the third driving device can be applied. The tweezers or the nozzle  54  of the automatic holding device  50  can readily clean out most of the small pieces of the debris scattered within the cartridge  60 . 
     When the transferring apparatus  100  is not in use, the transferring rods  22  are moved out of the cartridge  60 . In addition, the first driving device  30  can move the frame  21  to flip over and juxtaposed over the collecting device  40 . 
     The advantages of the present invention is the transferring apparatus can readily access to the cartridge so as to remove the damaged glass substrate or its debris in a single operation which is far to reach by the existing technology. Accordingly, the transferring apparatus can be fully automatic with shortened cycle time, while entertains great efficiency. On top of that, those undamaged and intact glass substrate located around will not be damaged accidentally by the removal of the damaged glass substrate. 
     There is some modification or alternation can be made to the transferring apparatus made in accordance with the present invention. In order to safely remove the small pieces of the debris of the glass substrate, which was left over by the transferring rods  22 , the arm of the automatic holding device  50  can be modified into an arrangement rotated horizontally centered on a preset point. The first driving device  30  can be configured by a servo and a pinion and rack arrangement. In addition, the number of the rollers on the transferring rods can also be altered so as to meet the field application. 
     The above described is merely preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is merely for illustration while not for limitation. As a result, any alternation and modification or any equivalents based on the specification as well as the drawings will be covered by the attached claims even they are applied to other fields of technology directly or indirectly.