TFT-LCD Float Glass Line With Surface Grinding for Defect Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current TFT-LCD glass substrate production methods, particularly for large-size substrates, face challenges in producing defect-free surfaces with microscopic flatness due to manufacturing processes that result in issues like tin dots and scratches, which are not adequately addressed by existing production lines.

Innovation Solution

A TFT-LCD float glass substrate processing line is designed with sequential working areas for precision cutting, edge grinding, and surface grinding, incorporating advanced devices for inspection, cleaning, and packaging, ensuring high precision and yield, including devices like cold-end cutting, multi-axis edge grinding, and surface grinding machines, with automatic detection and switching for different substrate sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If float method is used for glass substrate production, then large-size substrates can be produced with good flatness, but the glass surface develops micro defects such as tin dots and scratches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface flatnessVSAvoidtin dots and scratches

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies surface grinding processing to convert the harmful micro defects (tin dots and scratches) generated during float method production into removable surface irregularities. By grinding the glass surface, these defects are eliminated and the surface is restored to a defect-free state, transforming the harmful byproduct of float production into a correctable condition.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs surface grinding and cleaning as preliminary actions before the glass substrate reaches downstream manufacturers. This preliminary processing ensures that the surface defects are removed in advance, preventing them from affecting the final product quality and eliminating the need for downstream reprocessing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If downstream manufacturers require defect-free surfaces, then production yield decreases due to rework and inspection, but quality standards must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidproduction yield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by integrating surface grinding and cleaning processing into the float glass production line itself. The production line performs its own quality improvement operations, eliminating the need for external rework facilities and reducing dependency on downstream manufacturers to correct surface defects, thereby maintaining both quality and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous processing by integrating surface grinding and cleaning operations directly into the production flow. This eliminates interruptions for separate quality correction steps, maintaining continuous production while ensuring defect-free surfaces are achieved before substrates leave the production line, thus preserving both productivity and quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If precision cutting and edge grinding are performed, then substrate accuracy improves, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges precision cutting and edge grinding operations into a single integrated processing area. By combining these operations and using unified processing equipment, the system achieves high substrate accuracy while reducing overall processing complexity compared to separate, independent processing lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The processing equipment is designed with multi-functionality to perform both cutting and edge grinding operations. This universal equipment handles multiple tasks that would otherwise require separate specialized machines, thereby improving substrate accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12439694B2TFT-LCD float glass substrate processing line

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 BENGBU CHINA OPTOELECTRONIC TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A TFT-LCD float glass substrate processing line sequentially divided into a precision cutting and edge grinding working area, surface grinding working area, and inspection and packaging working area is disclosed. In the precision cutting and edge grinding working area, a cold-end cutting device, precision cutting and breaking device, multi-axis edge grinding device, after-edge-grinding cleaning device, first edge inspection machine device, first size measurement device, grinding range measurement device, flipping conveyor belt, and loading frame are sequentially installed. In the surface grinding working area, a bonding machine entry conveyor belt, first vacuum transfer suction cup, bonding machine device, surface grinding device, peeling machine device, second vacuum transfer suction cup, after-surface-grinding cleaning machine, first surface inspection machine device, final cleaning machine, third surface inspection machine device, second edge inspection machine device, second size measurement device, and thickness measurement device are disclosed.