Convex Cambered Stopper for Substrate Cassette Mullion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Substrates in the manufacturing process of display devices, such as OLEDs, are prone to damage due to collisions with metal mullions in substrate cassettes, which can occur due to positional discrepancies during transportation.

Innovation Solution

A strip-shaped stopper with a convex cambered surface is integrated into the substrate cassette's mullion, made of plastic, such as polypropylene, to absorb collisions instead of the metal mullions, ensuring the substrate slides into place without damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal mullions are used in the substrate cassette framework, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the substrate is easily damaged when it collides with the mullions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidsubstrate damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a stopper as an intermediary component between the substrate and the metal mullion. The stopper absorbs the collision impact, preventing direct contact between the substrate and the hard metal mullion, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural strength and substrate damage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is pre-installed on the inner side of the mullion to provide cushioning protection before any collision occurs. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if misalignment happens during substrate placement, the substrate will collide with the soft stopper material rather than the hard metal mullion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Manufacturing precision

If the substrate position is not precisely aligned during placement, then the substrate may collide with the mullions, but adjusting the position precisely increases the complexity of the placement process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate positioning precisionVSAvoidplacement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper provides a tolerance buffer that allows for positional misalignment without causing damage. This beforehand cushioning reduces the stringent positioning precision requirements, thereby simplifying the placement process while still preventing substrate damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper converts the potentially harmful collision with metal mullions into a beneficial soft contact that guides the substrate into the correct position. The convex cambered surface of the stopper can actually help guide misaligned substrates into proper alignment, turning the misalignment problem into a self-correcting feature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10096503B2Stopper for substrate cassette and substrate cassette assembly

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a stopper for a substrate cassette and a substrate cassette assembly, belonging to the technical field of manufacturing of display devices, which can solve the problem that an existing substrate cassette easily damages a substrate. The stopper for the substrate cassette of the present invention is strip-shaped, and arranged, in a length direction, on an inner side of a mullion of the substrate cassette; the stopper has a contact surface configured to contact the mullion of the substrate cassette and an exposed surface opposite to the contact surface, and the exposed surface, at least on a side facing the outside of the substrate cassette, is a convex cambered surface.