Patent Publication Number: US-7219798-B2

Title: Antistatic transport package for LCD cells

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a transport package, and in particular to an antistatic transport package for LCD cells. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Currently, liquid crystal display (LCD) cells comprise partially completed LCD panels, or glass substrates enclosing liquid crystal molecules therebetween without surface mounting control chips or assembly frame of conventional LCD panels. After fabrication, LCD cells have to be packed in boxes for transport to subsequent assembly facilities by air, land, or sea transports for following fabricating steps. 
   In  FIG. 1 , the conventional package  10  for LCD cells  1  comprises inner and outer boxes  12 ,  16 . The inner box  12  has a plurality of spacers  124  with equal intervals  122  to position the LCD cells  1 . After LCD cells  1  are vertically placed into the inner box  12  and the cover  14  is closed, the inner box  12  is placed into the outer box  16  and the cover  18  closes. Because the inner box is made of resilient polystyrene plastic and the outer box of polypropylene, LCD cells therein are protected from contaminants, electrostatic charges and damage from impact during transport. However, the profile of the conventional transport package is large and occupies much space during transport, complicating storage and transport and increasing costs. There is, thus, a need for a compact and reliable transport package for LCD cells. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a transport package for LCD cells with smaller profile to ease storage and transport thereof. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an antistatic transport package for LCD cells, protecting the LCD cells from electrostatic discharge-related damage. 
   A third object of the invention is to provide a transport package for LCD cells which can be unpacked easily. 
   A fourth object of the invention is to provide a transport packaging method, protecting partially completed LCD cell from physical damage during packing. 
   The present invention provides an antistatic transport package for LCD cells. The antistatic transport package comprises a body, cover and plurality of cushioning members mounted on the inner surfaces thereof. Protective films are disposed on top or bottom of each of the LCD cells in the case. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the antistatic transport package further comprises replaceable film disposed in the body, enclosing the protective film and the LCD cells, preventing contamination. 
   The body and the cover are integrally formed, connected by a folded edge. The cover has a plurality of lug portions with hook and loop fastening tapes disposed thereon, and can be fixed to the body when closed. The case comprises antistatic polypropylene (PP) corrugated board. The cushioning members are high density polyethylene (HDPE) foam sheets. The protective film is low density polyethylene (LHPE) foam. The replaceable film comprises polyethylene 
   The present invention also provides a method for transport packaging of LCD cells. First, a case with a plurality of cushioning members mounted on inner surfaces thereof is provided. Next, protective films envelops the LCD cells which are then placed into the case. 
   In a preferred embodiment, replaceable film is placed into the case, enclosing the protective film covered the LCD cells. 
   A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitation of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional transport package for LCD-cells; 
       FIG. 2A  is an exploded perspective view of the antistatic transport package for LCD cells of the invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the antistatic transport package in  FIG. 2A  after unpacking; and 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of multiple transport packages of the invention deployed for transport. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2A  shows an antistatic transport package for LCD cells of the invention. In  FIG. 2A , the antistatic transport package comprises a case  20 , a plurality of cushioning members  222 ,  242  and protective films  28 . The case  20  is integrally formed by folded antistatic corrugated board comprising a body  22  and cover  24  connected by a folded edge  228 . The body  22  and cover  24  comprise lug portions  225 ,  243  bearing rivets (not shown) or hook and loop fastening tapes  226  ( FIG. 2B ). Outer surfaces  223  of body  22  also bear hook and loop fastening tapes  244 ,  224  to fix the cover  24 , defining a space for LCD cells  1 . The cushioning members  222 ,  242 , comprising foam sheets, are mounted on the inner surfaces  221 ,  241  of the case  20 , protecting LCD cells  1  therein from impact damage. Protective film  28  envelops the LCD cells  1  and may be placed into the body  22 , such that LCD cells  1  can be packed in the case  20  with a smaller profile. 
   Replaceable film  26  is placed into the body  22  first, and then protective film  28  and LCD cells  1  are alternatively placed thereon. The replaceable film  26  encloses the protective film  28  and LCD cells  1  to prevent contamination. 
   In an preferred embodiment, the antistatic corrugated board of the case  20  comprises polypropylene. The cushioning members  222 ,  242  comprise antistatic high density polyethylene foam. Protective film  28  comprises antistatic low density polyethylene foam. Replaceable film  26  comprises antistatic polyethylene film. The hook and loop fastening tapes  224 ,  244 ,  226  comprise Nylon or polypropylene. 
     FIG. 2B  shows the antistatic transport package in  FIG. 2A  after unpacking in an assembly facility. In  FIG. 2B , the case  20  is unpacked, and the right sidewall  227  can be separated easily by way of the hook and loop fastening tapes  226  on the lug portions  225 , allowing convenient removal of protective films  28  and LCD cells  1  in direction P for subsequent process. 
     FIG. 3  shows multiple transport packages of the invention deployed for transport. For convenience of transport, the antistatic packages  20  are sequentially placed into cavities  32  of a frame  31  of conductive corrugated boards, which ground electrostatic charges and strengthen the entire assembly. 
   Accordingly, the antistatic transport package protects partially completed LCD cells from electrostatic charges and impact damage a smaller profile, easing storage requirements and presents reducing transport costs. Furthermore, the antistatic transport package can be easily unpacked. 
   While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it 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.