LCD cell chamfering apparatus

Abstract

A liquid crystal display (LCD) cell chamfering apparatus mainly comprises a grinding disc rotatably disposed in a housing, a liftable cover sealed an opening defined in the housing and a vacuum device for creating a vacuum in the housing relative to ambient. The liftable cover is provided with a track device mounted thereon. A slidable V-shaped clamp is mounted on the track device for holding a LCD cell. The corner of the LCD cell is brought into contact with the grinding disc, which is rotating, through an opening defined in the clamp and a slot defined in the cover thereby chamfering the corner of the LCD cell.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a chamfering apparatus, and more particularly to a chamfering apparatus used in fabrication of liquid crystal display (LCD).

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the LCD manufacturing process, two glass substrates are joined with seal material, and liquid crystal (LC) material is injected into the small space therebetween. Next, polarizing films are attached onto the outside of each substrate and the driver electronic PWBs are attached thereon. Finally, a backlight unit is added to complete the LCD module.

[0005] Specifically, the glass substrates are assembled by the following steps. First, an adhesive seal material is applied, usually by either silkscreening or screen printing. An opening is left in the seal for LC material injection in the subsequent process. After the adhesive is applied, it is cured in order to outgas solvents in the material and achieve partial cross-linking of the polymer. This makes the material less tacky (B-stage material), which allows the substrates to contact with each other during alignment. Before assembling the two substrates, spacers are deposited on one of the substrates to maintain a precise cell gap (between 5-10 micrometers) between the two substrates. The substrates are then aligned and laminated by heat and pressure to complete the cross-linking of the polymer.

[0006] After the assembling process is completed, the assembled glass substrates are cut apart or “singulated” into individual LCD cells of any desired sizes, depending on the customer's requirements. Next, the LCD cells are proceeded to a chamfering operation and an inspecting process for the outer appearance thereof.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a chamfering operation utilized an abrasive paper 100. It is conducted by directly rubbing the singulated LCD cells against the abrasive paper 100.

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a chamfering operation utilized a conventional chamfering apparatus 300. It is conducted by pressing the singulated LCD cells 200 against a rotating grinding disc 310. Specifically, one corner of the LCD cell 200 is pressed against the disc 310 along the rotating axis of the disc 310, so that the corner of the LCD cell 200 can be chamfered.

[0009] However, in the conventional chamfering methods described above, it is extremely difficult to control the movement of the LCD cell 200, when the LCD cell is chamfered. Thus, it is quite difficult to control the quality of the chamfering operation, e.g., the straightness of the chamfered corner.

[0010] Furthermore, those conventional chamfering devices cannot catch the dust particles which are messy and unpleasant to the operators as well as dangerous to the operators. Therefore, a need exists for a chamfering apparatus which adequately protects operator from being struck by flying particles or from ingesting particulate dust from the chamfering apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell chamfering apparatus which allows precise control of the chamfering operation thereby assuring the quality of the chamfering operation.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell chamfering apparatus which protects the operator and eliminates dust.

[0013] In accordance with the above objects, we discloses a LCD cell chamfering apparatus comprising a housing having an opening; means for creating a vacuum in the housing relative to ambient; a grinding disc rotatably disposed in the housing; a liftable cover sealed the opening of the housing, the liftable cover having a slot; a track device mounted on the liftable cover adapted for limiting a device in the track device to move along the slot of the cover; and a slidable V-shaped clamp mounted on the track device for holding the LCD cell, the V-shaped clamp having an opening.

[0014] According to the present invention, the LCD cell is held by the V-shaped clamp. To chamfer one corner of the LCD cell, the corner is pressed against the grinding disc, which is rotating, through the opening of the clamp and the slot of the cover. Since the opening of the clamp limits the movement of the LCD cell relative to the grinding disc, the chamfering operation can be conducted accurately thereby assuring the quality of the chamfering operation.

[0015] Furthermore, the LCD cell chamfering apparatus of the present invention has been provided with vacuum means to collect the chamfered particles thereby greatly reducing the dust. Specifically, the vacuum means comprises a tank connected to the housing through an inlet; a vacuum pump connected to the tank through an outlet; and a dust collection bag disposed inside the tank and connected directly to the inlet. According to the present invention, the chamfered particles are drawn into the dust collection bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a chamfering operation utilized an abrasive paper;

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a chamfering operation utilized a conventional chamfering apparatus;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a chamfering apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the chamfering apparatus of FIG. 3 according to the present invention; and

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates, in an enlarged cross-sectional view, a portion of the chamfering apparatus of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a LCD cell chamfering apparatus 400 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The chamfering apparatus 400 mainly comprises a grinding disc 410 rotatably disposed in a housing 420, a liftable cover 430 sealed an opening defined in the housing 420 and a vacuum means 440 adapted to create a vacuum in the housing 420 relative to ambient.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the liftable cover 430 has a slot 430a. A track device 450 is mounted on the liftable cover 430 for limiting a device in the track device to move along the slot 430a of the cover 430. A slidable V-shaped clamp 460 is mounted on the track device 460 for holding a LCD cell 200 wherein the V-shaped clamp 460 has an opening defined therein. Preferably, a scale 470 is provided along the track device 450 so that the movement of the V-shaped clamp 460 on the track device 460 can be precisely adjusted.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, the vacuum means 440 according to the present invention preferably comprises a tank 442 connected to the housing 420 through an inlet 444; a vacuum pump 446 connected to the tank 442 through an outlet 448; and a dust collection bag 449 disposed inside the tank 442 and connected directly to the inlet 444. It could be understood that, as shown, the LCD cell chamfering apparatus 400 of the present invention may be provided with two vacuum means 440. The grinding disc 410 of the present invention is supported on a shaft 412 built in a motor 414, e.g., a DC motor. The grinding disc 410 is rotated by the motor 414.

[0025] A description will be given of the operation of the LCD cell chamfering apparatus 400 according to the present invention, which is constructed in the manner described below.

[0026] First, the apparatus is turned on and the grinding disc 410 is rotated, and the LCD cell 200 is set on the chamfering apparatus 400. Specifically, the LCD cell 200 is placed so that one corner thereof can access the V-shaped clamp. Thereafter, the LCD cell chamfering apparatus 400 starts chamfering the LCD cell, i.e., the corner is pressed against the grinding disc, which is rotating, through the opening of the clamp and the slot of the cover. When the LCD cell moves by a predetermined distance toward the grinding disc, the corner of the LCD cell meets the V-shaped clamp, and the LCD cell stops moving. Since the opening of the clamp limits movement of the LCD cell moving toward the grinding disc, the chamfering operation can be conducted accurately thereby assuring the quality of the chamfering operation. Furthermore, during the chamfering operation, the chamfered dust particles are drawn into the dust collection bag 449 by the vacuum pump 446 thereby significantly reducing the dust particles that may be inhaled by the operators.

[0027] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) cell chamfering apparatus for chamfering a corner of a LCD cell, the chamfering apparatus comprising:

a housing having an opening;

vacuum means adapted to create a vacuum in the housing relative to ambient;

a grinding disc rotatably disposed in the housing;

a liftable cover sealed the opening of the housing, the liftable cover having a slot;

a track device mounted on the liftable cover adapted for limiting a device in the track device to move along the slot of the cover;

a slidable V-shaped clamp mounted on the track device for holding the LCD cell, the V-shaped clamp having an opening,

wherein the corner of the LCD cell is brought into contact with the grinding disc, which is rotating, through the opening of the clamp and the slot of the cover.

2. The LCD cell chamfering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum means comprises:

a tank connected to the housing through an inlet;

a vacuum pump connected to the tank through an outlet; and

a dust collection bag disposed inside the tank and connected directly to the inlet,

wherein the vacuum pump forces air under pressure into the dust collection bag.

3. The LCD cell chamfering apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a scale provided along the track device.