KR20080001539A - Charging system of unmanned transfer truck and its charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an unmanned conveying bogie moving by a battery being charged; And a spaced apart from the unmanned conveyance bogie at a predetermined interval on an upper portion of the unmanned conveyance bogie, and formed to move along the same movement path as the movement path of the unmanned conveyance bogie, and a charging coupler for charging a battery. And a charging method thereof.

Description

CHARING SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED GUIDED VEHICLE AND CHARGING METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a charging system of an automatic transport cart in a conventional liquid crystal display manufacturing line.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a receiving port of the stocker of FIG. 1 and a charging coupler formed at a lower portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the automatic transport cart of FIG. 1 and a charging terminal formed at a lower portion thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating how the automatic transport cart of FIG. 1 is filled in the stocking port of the stocker.

5 is a perspective view for schematically illustrating a charging system of an automatic transport cart in a liquid crystal display manufacturing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are perspective views schematically illustrating a method of charging an automatic transport cart in a liquid crystal display manufacturing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

{Description of symbols for main parts of the drawing}

140: charging coupler 150: automatic bounce

190: rail 200: block

210: main frame 220: power supply line

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the manufacture of semiconductors and / or liquid crystal displays, and more particularly, to a charging system for an unmanned transfer cart and a method of charging thereof in a semiconductor manufacturing line and / or a manufacturing line of a liquid crystal display.

In general, an unmanned guided vehicle is a vehicle that is responsible for the transfer of logistics by the command of a host computer in an unmanned plant or automated production line using a battery charged with its power source. Such unmanned transport trolleys include automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) and laser guided vehicles (LGVs).

The automatic conveyance trolley moves to the designated position along the guide line embedded in the floor and transfers the logistics at the designated position.

The laser conveyance bogie measures the angle reflected from the reflector of the laser beam emitted from the laser scanner mounted on the vehicle body, checks its position, and then moves to the designated position to transfer the logistics from the designated position.

Such unmanned transfer trolleys are used in various industrial fields such as the semiconductor manufacturing industry and the liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing industry. Hereinafter, the automatic conveyance trolley used in a liquid crystal display manufacturing line is demonstrated as an example.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a charging system of an automatic transport cart in a conventional liquid crystal display manufacturing line, FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a charging port and a charging coupler formed below the stocker of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the automatic conveying bogie of FIG. 1 and a charging terminal formed at a lower portion thereof, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the automatic conveying bogie of FIG. 1 is charged at a stocking port of the stocker.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a manufacturing line of a conventional liquid crystal display device includes a manufacturing apparatus 12 and 14, a stocker 30, an automatic conveyance trolley 50, an automatic conveyance trolley line 60, and a transfer. 70 is formed.

The manufacturing apparatuses 12 and 14 perform any one of a manufacturing process (for example, a cleaning process, a deposition process, a photo process, an etching process, an alignment process, a bonding process, a cutting process, and a module process) of the liquid crystal display device. Device. A plurality of these manufacturing apparatuses 12 and 14 are formed in respective zones, that is, respective bays 22 and 24. For example, a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 12 performing a predetermined manufacturing process are formed in the first bay 22, and a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 14 performing a predetermined manufacturing process are formed in the second bay 24. Is formed.

The stocker 30 temporarily stores the cassette 80 which is input to each manufacturing apparatus 12 and 14 or discharged from each manufacturing apparatus 12 and 14. The stocker 30 is provided with a receiving port 32 for carrying in the cassette 80 and a shipping port 34 for carrying out the cassette 80. Here, the cassette 80 has a predetermined manufacturing process or a plurality of substrates on which the predetermined manufacturing process is to be carried.

The automatic conveyance trolley 50 conveys the cassette 80 along the automatic conveyance trolley line 60. For example, the automatic conveyance trolley 50 moves to the delivery port 34 of the stocker 30, and loads the cassette 80 carried out from the stocker 30 in itself. Subsequently, the automatic conveyance trolley 50 moves to the manufacturing apparatuses 12 and 14 along the automatic conveyance trolley line 60, and then loads the cassette 80 into the manufacturing apparatuses 12 and 14. Subsequently, the automatic conveyance trolley 50 loads the cassette 80 discharged therefrom after the predetermined process has been performed in the manufacturing apparatuses 12 and 14. Subsequently, the automatic conveyance trolley 50 moves to the stocking port 32 of the stocker 30 along the automatic conveyance trolley line 60, and then carries the cassette 80 into the stocker 30.

By the way, the automatic conveyance trolley | bogie 50 is in charge of conveyance of the cassette 80 only in each bay 22,24. In other words, the automatic conveyance trolley 50 is responsible only for conveyance in the bay of the cassette 80. This means that the automatic conveyance trolley 50 is not responsible for the interbay transfer of the cassette 80. This is to increase the conveyance efficiency of the cassette 80 and the running efficiency of the automatic conveyance trolley 50.

The automatic conveying bogie line 60 provides a path through which the automatic conveying bogie 50 can move within each bay 22, 24. Here, a guide line is embedded in the automatic conveyance balance line 60.

The transfer 70 is responsible for the interbay transfer of the cassette 80. For example, the transfer 70 conveys the cassette 80 conveyed by the automatic conveyance trolley 50 of the 1st bay 22 to the automatic conveyance trolley 50 of the 2nd bay 24. The transfer port 70 has a receiving port and a shipping port.

The battery charging of the automatic transfer cart 50 in the manufacturing line of the conventional liquid crystal display as described above is carried out such as the receiving and leaving ports 32 and 34 of the stocker 30 and the receiving and leaving ports of the transfer 70. It is done only at a specific location.

A charging coupler is formed below each of the stocking and leaving ports 32 and 34 of the stocker 30 and the receiving and leaving ports of the transfer 70, and a power supply for supplying power to the charging coupler is provided at each of the lower portions thereof. Formed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a charging coupler 40 is formed below the receiving port 32 of the stocker 30, and the charging coupler 40 has a charging terminal capable of moving forward and backward ( 42) is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the charging terminal 42 of the charging coupler 40 is connected to the charging terminal 52 of the automatic transport cart 50 to charge the battery of the automatic transport cart 50.

In the charging system of the conventional automatic conveying apparatus including the above-mentioned automatic conveyance trolley 50, the charging coupler 40, and a power supply, the charging method of the automatic conveyance apparatus is explained, for example. Arrives at the stocking port 32 of the stocker 30 to bring the cassette 80 into the stocker 30, the charging terminal 42 of the charging coupler 40, as shown in FIG. It advances and is connected with the charging terminal 52 of the automatic conveyance trolley 50, and this causes the battery charging of the automatic conveyance trolley 50 to start. Subsequently, when the carrying-in of the cassette 80 to the stocker 30 is completed, the charging terminal 42 of the charging coupler 40 is moved backwards to be separated from the charging terminal 52 of the automatic transfer cart 50, thereby causing automatic transfer. Charging of the cart 50 is complete | finished.

However, there is a problem in that the charging system of the automatic transfer cart and the charging method thereof have to be charged only at a specific position.

In addition, there is a problem that the battery may not be fully charged because the battery is charged only for a short time during which the conveyance of the cassette 80 is performed. As a result, the life of the battery is inevitably shortened, there is a problem that the battery replacement cycle is also shortened.

In addition, there is a problem in that a plurality of power supplies separately provided to supply power to each charging coupler 40 is required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging system for an unmanned transport cart and a charging method thereof capable of charging a battery of an unmanned transport cart regardless of the position and movement of the unmanned transport cart.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a charging system and a charging method thereof capable of removing a plurality of power supplies separately provided for supplying power to each charging coupler.

Further technical problems to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned above are clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. It can be understood.

Charging system of the unmanned conveying trolley according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem is an unmanned conveying bogie moving by a battery being charged; And a charging coupler formed at an upper portion of the unmanned conveying trolley and spaced apart from the unmanned conveying trolley at a predetermined interval, and moving along the same moving path as the moving path of the unmanned conveying trolley and charging the battery.

The said unattended conveyance trolley is characterized in that the charging terminal of the said unattended conveyance trolley connected with the said battery is formed in the upper part.

The charging terminal of the unmanned transport trolley is raised to be connected to the charging terminal of the charging coupler, and is lowered to fall from the charging terminal of the connected charging coupler.

A rail formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler and formed along the same travel path as the travel path of the unmanned transport trolley; And a block sliding along the rail.

The charging coupler is fixed to the block.

And a power supply line formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler and supplying power to the charging coupler.

The said unattended conveyance trolley is any one of an automatic conveyance trolley and a laser conveyance trolley. It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the charging method of the unmanned conveying trolley according to the present invention includes (a) a charging terminal of the unmanned conveying trolley formed on an upper portion of the unmanned conveying trolley rises to provide the same moving path as that of the unmanned conveying trolley. Connecting with a charging terminal of a charging coupler configured to move along; And (b) the charging terminal of the unmanned transport cart descends and falls from the charging terminal of the charging coupler.

The charging coupler is formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler, characterized in that it moves along a rail that provides the same travel path as the travel path of the unmanned transport trolley.

The said unattended conveyance trolley is any one of an automatic conveyance trolley and a laser conveyance trolley. It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the charging system and the charging method of the unmanned transfer truck according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view for schematically illustrating a charging system of an automatic transport cart in a liquid crystal display manufacturing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the manufacturing line of the liquid crystal display according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the charging system of the automatic transport cart 150 includes the automatic transport cart 150, the charging coupler 140, the rail 190, and the block ( 200, a main frame 210, and a power supply line 220.

The automatic conveyance trolley 150 moves along the automatic conveyance trolley line 160 where the guide line is embedded using a battery charged with its power source. Here, the battery is connected to the charging terminal 152 of the automatic transport cart 150, and the charging terminal 152 of the automatic transport cart 150 is formed on the upper portion of the automatic transport cart 150.

The charging terminal 152 of the automatic transport cart 150 formed in the upper portion may be raised and lowered by the raising and lowering operation of the pusher connected thereto. Here, the pusher is raised and lowered by the rotation of the motor. Here, the raising operation of the charging terminal 152 of the automatic conveyance trolley 150 is performed to be connected with the charging terminal 142 of the charging coupler 140, and the charging terminal 152 of the automatic conveyance trolley 150 The lowering operation is performed to move away from the charging terminal 142 of the charging coupler 140 connected to it.

The charging coupler 140 is formed to charge the battery of the automatic transfer cart 150. That is, the battery of the automatic conveyance trolley 150 is charged by connecting the charging terminal 142 of the charging coupler 140 and the charging terminal 152 of the automatic conveyance trolley 150.

The filling coupler 140 is formed to be spaced apart from the automatic conveying trolley 150 by a predetermined interval on the upper portion of the automatic conveying trolley 150 and is formed to move along the same moving path as that of the automatic conveying trolley 150. In other words, the charging coupler 140 moves at the same speed as the moving speed of the automatic conveying bogie 150 along the same moving path as that of the automatic conveying bogie 150 in the upper portion of the automatic conveying bogie 150. To this end, the charging coupler 140 may be controlled by a host computer that controls the automatic transfer cart 150. For this reason, the battery of the automatic transport cart 150 may be fully charged by the charging coupler 140 regardless of the position and movement of the automatic transport cart 150. In addition, this also leads to longer battery life and replacement cycles.

The rail 190 is formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler 140 and is formed along the same moving path as the moving path of the automatic transport cart 150. The rail 190 provides a path through which the charging coupler 140 can move.

The block 200 slides along the rail 190, and the charging coupler 140 is fixed to the block 200. For this reason, the charging coupler 140 can move along the movement path provided by the rail 190, ie, the movement path same as the movement path of the automatic conveyance trolley 150.

The main frame 210 fixes the rail 190. To this end, the main frame 210 may be formed on the rail 190, but is not limited thereto.

The power supply line 220 is formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler 140 and directly supplies power to the charging coupler 140. For this reason, a separate power supply is not required to supply power to the charging coupler 140.

6A and 6B are perspective views schematically illustrating a method of charging an automatic transport cart in a liquid crystal display manufacturing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to charge the battery of the automatic transport cart in the manufacturing line of the liquid crystal display according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, the charging terminal 152 formed on the upper portion of the automatic transport cart 150 is pushed. It is lifted by 230 and connected to the charging terminal 142 of the charging coupler 140. As a result, the battery of the automatic transfer cart 150 begins to be charged. Subsequently, when the battery is fully charged, as shown in FIG. 6B, the charging terminal 152 of the automatic transport cart 150 is lowered by the pusher 230 to be separated from the charging terminal 142 of the charging coupler 140. Here, the movement of the automatic transfer cart 150 and the charging coupler 140 may be controlled by the host computer.

Meanwhile, the charging system of the automatic transfer cart 150 and the charging method thereof in the manufacturing line of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other manufacturing lines (for example, semiconductor manufacturing lines), and the laser transfer cart It is also applicable to a charging system and a charging method thereof.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can realize that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. I can understand that.

Therefore, the embodiments described above are provided to fully inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and should be understood as illustrative and not limiting in all aspects. The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The charging system of the unmanned conveying truck according to the present invention and the charging method thereof according to the present invention made as described above anytime, anywhere, regardless of the position and movement of the unmanned conveying truck when the battery of the unmanned conveying truck is consumed below a certain standard It can be charged. As a result, the battery life and replacement cycles become long.

In addition, the charging system of the unmanned transfer truck and the charging method thereof according to the present invention made as described above do not need a separate power supply for supplying power to the charging coupler, so the cost required to configure the charging system of the unmanned transfer truck There is an effect that can be saved.

Claims (11)

An unmanned conveying bogie moving by a charged battery; And A charging coupler configured to be spaced apart from the unmanned transport cart by a predetermined interval on an upper portion of the unmanned transport cart, and to move along the same travel path as that of the unmanned transport cart; Charging system of an unmanned conveying bogie comprising a. According to claim 1, The said unmanned conveyance trolley | charging system is provided with the charging terminal of the said unmanned conveyance trolley connected with the said battery in the upper part. The method of claim 2, And said charging terminal of said unmanned conveying bogie rises to be connected to a charging terminal of said charging coupler and descends to fall from said charging terminal of said connected charging coupler. According to claim 1, A rail formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler and formed along the same moving path as the moving path of the unmanned transport trolley; And A block sliding along the rail The charging system of an unmanned conveying bogie further including. The method of claim 4, wherein And said charging coupler is fixed to said block. The method of claim 4, wherein Main frame fixing the rail The charging system of an unmanned conveying bogie further including. The method according to claim 1 or 4, A power supply line formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler and supplying power to the charging coupler The charging system of an unmanned conveying bogie further including. According to claim 1, The said unmanned conveyance trolley | bogie is any one of an automatic conveyance trolley and a laser conveyance trolley, The charging system of the unmanned conveyance trolley | car characterized by the above-mentioned. (a) the charging terminal of the unmanned conveying bogie formed on the top of the unmanned conveying bogie rises to be connected with the charging terminal of the charging coupler formed to move along the same moving path as the moving path of the unmanned conveying bogie; And (b) the charging terminal of the unmanned transport cart descends and falls from the charging terminal of the charging coupler; Charging method of the unmanned conveyance truck comprising a. The method of claim 9, And the charging coupler is formed at the same or similar height as the charging coupler and moves along a rail providing the same moving path as the moving path of the unmanned conveying bogie. The method of claim 9, The said unattended conveyance trolley | bogie is any one of an automatic conveyance trolley and a laser conveyance trolley, The charging method of the unmanned conveyance trolley | car characterized by the above-mentioned.

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