Display Panel Stocker Self-Cleaning for Particle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stocker systems for display panel manufacturing face challenges in maintaining a clean internal environment due to the risk of microparticles contaminating substrates, as manual cleaning introduces particles and requires suspension of operations.
Innovation Solution
A stocker system incorporating a robot arm for material stacking and a dirt collecting unit with a vacuum pump and purification filter to remove particles, along with a cleaning pad for absorbing residual particles, allowing continuous operation and effective particle removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a person directly enters into the stocker for cleaning, then the internal space can be cleaned, but particles may be carried inside the stocker together with the person and operation must be suspended
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted from manual operation and implemented through an automated cleaning unit that enters the stocker internally. This unit includes a cleaning head with suction device that removes particles from the internal space without requiring human entry, thus avoiding particle contamination from personnel and maintaining operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stocker system performs self-cleaning through the automated cleaning unit that autonomously navigates and cleans the internal space. The system includes sensors for detecting particles and automatically activates the cleaning function, enabling the stocker to maintain its own cleanliness without external human intervention.
2Reliability
If manual cleaning is performed, then particles can be removed, but operation of the stocker must be suspended while cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is designed to operate continuously or periodically without suspending stocker operations. The automated cleaning head can function during idle periods or between substrate processing cycles, maintaining continuous particle removal capability while minimizing disruption to the overall manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If the stocker maintains a clean internal environment, then substrate contamination is prevented, but complex cleaning mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit utilizes pneumatic suction through a vacuum generation device to remove particles. This pneumatic mechanism is integrated with the robot arm's movement capability, allowing the cleaning head to be positioned and operated without requiring complex mechanical cleaning structures, thus maintaining relatively simple device architecture while achieving effective particle removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains a clean internal environment by continuously removing particles during material stacking without suspending operations, preventing substrate contamination and ensuring precision in display panel manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump disposed on the transfer unit to evacuate internal air of the main body unit through the dirt collecting duct
Implementation Method 2
a purification filter disposed between the dirt collecting duct and the vacuum pump
Implementation Method 3
a cleaning pad having a base substrate and an absorbing unit formed at an edge of the base substrate, wherein the cleaning pad is stacked on the main body unit so that the absorbing unit contacts another one of the receiving shelves of the main body unit
Data Source
AI summary
A stocker including a main body unit having a plurality of receiving shelves, a transfer unit transferring a received material to be moved to the main body unit, a robot arm stacking the received material transferred by the transfer unit on one of the receiving shelves of the main body unit, and a dirt collecting unit moving in conjunction with the robot arm to remove particles from inside the main body unit.