An optical alignment device and a method for replacing a lamp tube in the optical alignment device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an optical alignment device and a method for replacing a lamp tube in the optical alignment device. The optical alignment device includes: a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping mover; wherein, the light source includes at least one lamp tube; the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state is a working state, and the second state is a state where the lamp tube faces the clamping mover; the track extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as a movement path for the clamping mover; the clamping mover is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or a new lamp tube in the light source along the track. The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention enables the lamp tube to be replaced without being pulled out from the side, reduces the space reserved for replacing the lamp tube in the optical alignment device, and avoids the waste of space resources in the panel factory.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of photo-alignment, and in particular, to a photo-alignment device and a method for replacing a lamp tube in the photo-alignment device. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous increase in the size of liquid crystal display panels, high-generation photo-alignment devices suitable for the processing of alignment films in large-size display substrates are widely used.

[0003] The illumination intensity, uniformity, and wavelength of the light emitted by the light source in the photo-alignment device are closely related to the quality of the alignment film. Therefore, in order to obtain a high-quality alignment film, the lamp tubes in the light source of the photo-alignment device need to be frequently replaced. For conventional photo-alignment devices, the following method is used to replace the lamp tubes in the prior art: all components such as the lamp tube, reflector, and wire grid are led out from one side of the device perpendicular to the scanning direction by using a special maintenance tooling cart, and then the lamp tube is replaced manually. The above method of replacing the lamp tube requires a certain space to be reserved on the side of the photo-alignment device where the lamp tube is led out, and the length of this space needs to be at least greater than the length of the lamp tube, resulting in an increase in the space occupied by the photo-alignment device. Especially for high-generation photo-alignment devices with longer lamp tubes, the space they occupy is even larger, causing a waste of space resources in the panel factory. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a photo-alignment device and a method for replacing a lamp tube in the photo-alignment device to reduce the space reserved for replacing the lamp tube in the photo-alignment device.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a photo-alignment device, which includes:

[0006] A light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping slider;

[0007] Wherein, the light source includes at least one lamp tube;

[0008] The steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, where the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping slider;

[0009] The track extends from the maintenance door of the photo-alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping slider;

[0010] The clamping slider is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or the new lamp tube in the light source along the track.

[0011] Second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for replacing a lamp tube in an optical alignment device. The optical alignment device includes a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping slider; wherein, the light source includes at least one lamp tube; the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, where the first state is the working state and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping slider; the track extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping slider; the clamping slider is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or a new lamp tube in the light source along the track;

[0012] The method for replacing a lamp tube in the optical alignment device includes:

[0013] Controlling the steering component to flip the light source from the first state to the second state;

[0014] Controlling the clamping slider to move along the track from the inside of the maintenance door to the position where the light source is located, and performing the handover of the lamp tube to be replaced with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source;

[0015] Controlling the clamping slider holding the lamp tube to be replaced to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door;

[0016] After the lamp tube to be replaced is taken out, controlling the clamping slider to clamp the newly placed lamp tube and move along the track to the position where the light source is located, and performing the handover of the new lamp tube with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source;

[0017] Controlling the clamping slider to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door.

[0018] The optical alignment device provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping slider. Among them, the light source includes at least one lamp tube, the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, where the first state is the working state and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping slider, the track extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping slider, and the clamping slider is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or a new lamp tube in the light source along the track. By setting the structure of the above optical alignment device, it is not necessary to pull out the lamp tube from the side when replacing the lamp tube, reducing the space reserved for replacing the lamp tube in the optical alignment device and avoiding the waste of space resources in the panel factory. Description of the Drawings

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the introduced drawings are only the drawings of a part of the embodiments to be described by the present invention, rather than all the drawings. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 is a top view of an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a front view of an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a left view of an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for replacing a lamp tube in an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0024] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It can be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than limiting the present invention. Additionally, it should be noted that for the sake of convenience of description, only parts related to the present invention are shown in the drawings rather than all the content. Before discussing the exemplary embodiments in more detail, it should be mentioned that some exemplary embodiments are described as processes or methods depicted as flowcharts. Although the flowcharts describe the operations (or steps) as sequential processes, many of the operations can be implemented in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations can be rearranged. When the operations are completed, the process can be terminated, but there can also be additional steps not included in the drawings. The process can correspond to a method, function, procedure, subroutine, subprogram, etc.

[0025] Figure 1 is a top view of an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 1As shown, the photo-alignment device includes: a light source 100, a steering component 200, a rail 300, and a clamping mover 400. Among them, the light source 100 includes at least one lamp tube 111. The steering component 200 is connected to the light source 100 and is used to realize the flipping of the light source 100 between a first state and a second state. Among them, the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube 111 faces the clamping mover 400. The rail 300 extends from the maintenance door (not shown) of the photo-alignment device to the position of the light source 100 and is used as the movement path of the clamping mover 400. The clamping mover 400 is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or the new lamp tube in the light source 100 along the rail 300.

[0026] It should be noted that Figure 1 the light source 100 in Figure 2 is the front view of a photo-alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 the light source 100 in Figure 2 is in the second state. In

[0027] Specifically, as Figure 1 shown, when the photo-alignment device is working, the light source 100 is in the first state. The moving stage 500 on which the display substrate is placed moves along the moving stage rail 600 to the position below the light source 100. The light emitted by the lamp tube 111 is irradiated onto the alignment film on the upper surface of the display substrate through the correspondingly arranged filter and wire grid, and photo-alignment is performed on the alignment film. The positions of the filter 700 and the wire grid 800 are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 . When a lamp tube 111 needs to be replaced, the light source 100 of the photo-alignment device stops working. The steering component 200 drives the light source 100 to switch from the first state to the second state. The clamping mover 400 moves along the rail 300 to the position where the light source 100 is located, removes the lamp tube to be replaced, and then transports the lamp tube 111 along the rail 300 to the inside of the maintenance door (not shown). The staff can conveniently take out the lamp tube 111 at this position and place the new lamp tube on the clamping mover 400. The clamping mover 400 clamps the new lamp tube and transports it to the position where the light source 100 is located, and places the new lamp tube at the position to be installed.

[0028] It should be noted that the clamping mover 400 includes a clamping component for clamping the lamp tube 111. Exemplarily, as Figure 1As shown, the clamping component can be a manipulator 430. When the clamping slider 400 and the light source 100 perform the handover of the lamp tube 111, the manipulator 430 can perform the clamping operation on the lamp tube 111 and the opening operation of the lamp tube clamping mechanism on the light source 100 in sequence, or the opening operation of the manipulator 430 and the clamping operation of the lamp tube clamping mechanism on the light source 100 in sequence. It can be understood that the operation of the manipulator 430 and the corresponding operation of the lamp tube clamping mechanism on the light source 100 can also be performed simultaneously. This embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0029] It should also be noted that, as Figure 2 shown, the light source 100 is converted from the first state to the second state with the edge away from the clamping slider 400 and close to the track 300 as the axis, without the need to simultaneously perform the movement of the light source 100 in the extending direction of the track 300 during the conversion process. This unilateral state change can be realized by a simple-structured steering component 200.

[0030] The optical alignment device provided in this embodiment includes a light source 100, a steering component 200, a track 300, and a clamping slider 400. Among them, the light source 100 includes at least one lamp tube 111. The steering component 200 is connected to the light source 100 and is used to realize the flipping of the light source 100 between the first state and the second state. Among them, the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube 111 faces the clamping slider 400. The track 300 extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source 100 and is used as the movement path of the clamping slider 400. The clamping slider 400 is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or the new lamp tube in the light source 100 along the track 300. By setting the structure of the above optical alignment device, it is not necessary to pull out the lamp tube 111 from the side when replacing the lamp tube 111, which reduces the space reserved for replacing the lamp tube 111 in the optical alignment device and avoids the waste of space resources in the panel factory.

[0031] Exemplarily, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the steering component 200 can be a hydraulic rod. The hydraulic rod is a commonly used driving component in the prior art, with mature related technologies, simple structure and convenient operation. Therefore, using the hydraulic rod as the setting of the steering component 200 increases the compatibility of the technical solution of this embodiment with the prior art and reduces the preparation and use difficulty of the steering component 200.

[0032] Continuing to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , optionally, the light source 100 can include a frame 120 and at least one lamp box 110. The frame 120 is used to support and fix the at least one lamp box 110. Each lamp box 110 includes a lamp tube 111. Along the extending direction of the lamp tube 111, the hydraulic rod is arranged on both sides of the frame 120.

[0033] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 the frame 120 in includes two connecting frames respectively arranged on both sides of a plurality of light boxes 110 in the extending direction of the lamp tube 111. It can be understood that in other embodiments of this embodiment, the frame 120 can also be other structures. For example, it can be a net shape including a plurality of mesh holes, and one light box 110 is arranged in each mesh hole. In order to enable the light source 100 to be turned over as a whole and the light emitted by the lamp tube 111 is not blocked, one end of the steering member 200 connected to the light source 100 can be arranged on the frame 120.

[0034] Figure 3 is the left view of an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 3 , the light source 100 is in the second state, that is, the lamp tube 111 is opposite to the clamping mover 400. As Figure 3 shown, the clamping mover 400 includes a U-shaped frame 410, a support rod 420, and at least one manipulator 430. Two ends of the support rod 420 are respectively connected to two side rods of the U-shaped frame 410, and the at least one manipulator 430 is arranged on the support rod 420.

[0035] It should be noted that the U-shaped frame 410 is used as a fixing component for the support rod 420 and the moving mechanism of the clamping mover. In other embodiments of this embodiment, the U-shaped frame 410 can also be other shapes besides U-shaped, for example, it can be a whole board. In addition, as Figure 3 shown, a manipulator 430 is arranged at the positions corresponding to two ends of the lamp tube 111 respectively, which can improve the stability of the clamped lamp tube 111. It should be noted that this embodiment only takes the number of manipulators 430 being two and both being arranged at positions close to the ends as an example for description, rather than a limitation on the number and position of the manipulators 430.

[0036] Continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the clamping mover 400 can also include at least one support component 440, and the at least one support component 440 is arranged on the support rod 420.

[0037] It should be noted that the support member 440 is used to assist the manipulator 430 in better fixing the lamp tube 111 and preventing the lamp tube 111 from falling during the movement of the clamping mover 400. It can be understood that since the manipulator 430 can clamp the lamp tube 111 up and down, the support member 440 only needs to support the lamp tube 111 below the lamp tube 111. Therefore, the support member 440 can be an upwardly curved arc. It can be understood that in order to fix the lamp tube 111 more firmly, the support member 440 can also include a downwardly curved arc, that is, the shape of the support member 440 can be the same as the shape of the manipulator 430 when it is not opened. In other embodiments of this embodiment, the shape of the support member 440 can also be other shapes, as long as it can support and fix the lamp tube 111, and this embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0038] Exemplarily, as Figures 1 to 3 shown, a sliding member 450 can be provided between the end of the support rod 420 and the side rod of the U-shaped frame 410.

[0039] It should be noted that the setting of the sliding member 450 enables the support rod 420 to move along the extension direction of the side rod of the U-shaped frame 410, thereby driving at least one manipulator 430 and at least one support member 440 to move. In such a setting, the manipulator 430 can replace the lamp tubes 111 at different heights without specifically setting corresponding support rods 420 for lamp tubes 111 with different heights, simplifying the structure of the clamping mover 400 and improving the versatility of the clamping mover 400.

[0040] Further, as Figure 2 shown, the height of the U-shaped frame 410 can be equal to the height of the light source 100 when it is in the second state.

[0041] It should be noted that in such a setting, the height of the side rod of the U-shaped frame 410 can be equal to the height of the light source 100 when it is in the second state, so that the length of the sliding member 450 provided on the side rod of the U-shaped frame 410 can be equal to the height of the light source 100 when it is in the second state, ensuring that the support rod 420 can move along the sliding member 450 to any position where the lamp tube 111 is located to replace the lamp tube 111. It can be understood that the height of the U-shaped frame 410 can also be higher than the height of the light source 100 when it is in the second state.

[0042] Continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the orthographic projection of the lamp tube 111 on the plane where the track 300 is located does not overlap with the track 300.

[0043] It should be noted that such a setting can ensure that the light emitted by the lamp tube 111 will not be blocked by the track 300, and can be used for optical alignment to a great extent, improving the light utilization rate of the lamp tube 111.

[0044] Exemplarily, the manipulator 430 for clamping the lamp tube 111 may be coated with a flexible material layer on its side surface.

[0045] It should be noted that the flexible material layer has a high softness. When the manipulator 430 clamps the lamp tube 111, it can buffer the clamping stress on the lamp tube 111, reducing the probability of the lamp tube 111 being broken by mechanical stress, and protecting the fragile and costly lamp tube 111.

[0046] Figure 4 It is a schematic flow chart of a method for replacing a lamp tube in an optical alignment device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The optical alignment device includes a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping mover. Among them, the light source includes at least one lamp tube, the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state. Among them, the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping mover. The track extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping mover. The clamping mover is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or a new lamp tube in the light source along the track. As Figure 4 shown, the method for replacing a lamp tube in the optical alignment device provided by this embodiment may specifically include the following:

[0047] Step 1: Control the steering component to flip the light source from the first state to the second state.

[0048] Step 2: Control the clamping mover to move along the track from the inside of the maintenance door to the position where the light source is located, and conduct handover of the lamp tube to be replaced with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source.

[0049] Step 3: Control the clamping mover holding the lamp tube to be replaced to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door.

[0050] Step 4: After the lamp tube to be replaced is taken out, control the clamping mover to clamp the newly placed lamp tube, and move along the track to the position where the light source is located, and conduct handover of the new lamp tube with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source.

[0051] Step 5: Control the clamping mover to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door.

[0052] Further, when the clamping mover includes a U-shaped frame, a support rod, and at least one manipulator, two ends of the support rod are respectively connected to two side rods of the U-shaped frame, the at least one manipulator is disposed on the support rod, and a sliding member is disposed between an end of the support rod and the side rod of the U-shaped frame, after controlling the clamping mover to move along the track from the inner side of the maintenance door to the position where the light source is located, it further includes adjusting the support rod to move along the sliding member to the position where the lamp tube to be replaced is located.

[0053] It should be noted that for the clamping mover with a sliding member, its initial position can be further set to the position where the support rod is located at the end of the sliding member close to the track on the basis of being located inside the maintenance door, that is, when the clamping mover is inside the maintenance door of the optical alignment device and the support rod is located at the end of the sliding member close to the track, the clamping mover is located at the initial position. This position is more convenient for the staff to reach, and thus it is more convenient to take out the lamp tube to be replaced and put in a new lamp tube.

[0054] Note that the above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles applied. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Various obvious changes, re-adjustments, and substitutions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Without departing from the concept of the present invention, more other equivalent embodiments can be included, and the scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A light alignment device, characterized in that, it includes: a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping mover; wherein, the light source includes at least one lamp tube; the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping mover; the track extends from the maintenance door of the light alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping mover; the clamping mover is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or a new lamp tube in the light source along the track; the clamping mover includes at least one manipulator; the light source is converted from the first state to the second state with the edge away from the clamping mover and close to the track as the axis.

2. The light alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the steering component is a hydraulic rod.

3. The light alignment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, the light source includes a frame and at least one light box, the frame is used to support and fix the at least one light box, and each light box includes a lamp tube; along the extension direction of the lamp tube, the hydraulic rods are arranged on both sides of the frame.

4. The light alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the clamping mover further includes a U-shaped frame and a support rod; both ends of the support rod are respectively connected to the two side rods of the U-shaped frame, and the at least one manipulator is arranged on the support rod.

5. The light alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, the clamping mover further includes at least one support component, and the at least one support component is arranged on the support rod.

6. The light alignment device according to claim 5, characterized in that, the shape of the support component is the same as the shape of the manipulator when it is not opened.

7. The light alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, a sliding component is arranged between the end of the support rod and the side rod of the U-shaped frame.

8. The light alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, the height of the U-shaped frame is equal to the height of the light source when it is in the second state.

9. The light alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, the manipulator is used to clamp the side of the lamp tube and is coated with a flexible material layer.

10. The light alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the orthographic projection of the lamp tube on the plane where the track is located does not overlap with the track.

11. A method for replacing a lamp tube in a light alignment device, characterized in that, The optical alignment device includes a light source, a steering component, a track, and a clamping mover; wherein, the light source includes at least one lamp tube; the steering component is connected to the light source and is used to realize the flipping of the light source between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state is the working state, and the second state is the state where the lamp tube faces the clamping mover; the track extends from the maintenance door of the optical alignment device to the position of the light source and is used as the movement path of the clamping mover; the clamping mover is used to clamp and transport the lamp tube to be replaced or the new lamp tube in the light source along the track; The method for replacing the lamp tube in the optical alignment device includes: Controlling the steering component to flip the light source from the first state to the second state; Controlling the clamping mover to move along the track from the inside of the maintenance door to the position where the light source is located and conduct the handover of the lamp tube to be replaced with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source; Controlling the clamping mover holding the lamp tube to be replaced to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door; After the lamp tube to be replaced is taken out, controlling the clamping mover to clamp the newly placed lamp tube and move along the track to the position where the light source is located to conduct the handover of the new lamp tube with the lamp tube clamping component in the light source; Controlling the clamping mover to move along the track to the inside of the maintenance door; The clamping mover includes a U-shaped frame, a support rod, and at least one manipulator; both ends of the support rod are respectively connected to the two side rods of the U-shaped frame, and the at least one manipulator is arranged on the support rod; a sliding component is arranged between the end of the support rod and the side rod of the U-shaped frame; After controlling the clamping mover to move along the track from the inside of the maintenance door to the position where the light source is located, it further includes: Adjusting the support rod to move along the sliding component to the position where the lamp tube to be replaced is located.

Images