Patent Application
20070095703
The present invention relates to packing apparatuses, and more particularly to a packing apparatus typically used for storing and transporting glass substrates.
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) generally includes two glass substrates as bases for supporting other components thereon. The other components can include, for example, thin film transistors, integrated circuits, and a color filter. Each glass substrate is fragile and can be damaged easily by an external impact, static electricity or contamination during transportation or operation.
Referring to
The grooves 130 basically only function to secure the glass substrates in the packing apparatus 10. In general, the packing apparatus 10 has no particular buffering (or cushioning) capability, nor provides any protection from buildup of static electricity that may discharge and damage the glass substrates.
Accordingly, what is needed is a packing apparatus configured to be able to provide buffering (or cushioning) and/or protection from the risks of static electricity.
An exemplary packing apparatus includes a main body, a cover, and at least one partition layer. The cover is configured to be attached to the main body and cooperatively forms a receiving space with the main body. The at least one partition layer is received in the receiving space.
The packing apparatus further comprises a protection film received within the receiving space.
A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, all the views are schematic.
Referring to
The top and base parts 2022, 2012 respectively include a plurality of substantially rectangular recessed structures (not labeled), each having a thickness configured in the range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. The recessed structures are for increasing the buffering (or cushioning) capacity of the top and base parts 2022, 2012. Two of opposite long outer side walls 2023 and an outer portion of the top part 2022 of the cover 202 cooperatively form a pair of parallel, U-shaped channels 205 respectively. Two of opposite long outer side walls 2013 and an outer portion of the bottom part 2012 of the main body 201 cooperatively form another pair of parallel, U-shaped channels 205 respectively. When the cover 202 is attached on the main body 201, the inner side walls 2011 of the main body 201 abut the inner side walls 2021 of the cover 202. The cover 202 and the main body 201 are secured together by the binding belts 204, which are arranged in the channels 205 of the cover 202 and the main body 201.
In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of partition layers 212 is two partition layers 212. A glass substrate 211 is interlaid between the partition layers 212, and the combination of the glass substrate 211 and the partition layers 212 is referred to herein as a substrate package 21. Each of the partition layers 212 includes a plurality of concave and convex structures (not labeled) at major surfaces thereof. This configuration increases the buffering (or cushioning) capacity of the partition layer 212. Further, air can flow between the glass substrate 211 and the partition layers 212, thereby avoiding cracking of the glass substrate 211 due to air pressure between the partition layers 212. The size of each partition layer 212 substantially matches that of the glass substrate 211. The partition layer 212 is substantially frame-shaped, with an opening (not labeled) at the center. The partition layers 212 are made from toxic-free material, for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE has good anti-static electricity capability. A density of HDPE is relative low, for example, around 0.995 kilograms per cubic centimeter.
The inner side walls 2021 of the cover 202 define four holes 2014 at junctions therebetween respectively. The inner side walls 2011 of the main body 201 define four holes 2014 at junctions therebetween respectively. The holes 2014 enable the inner side walls 2021, 2011 to expand or contract slightly without bending or deforming. Thereby, friction between edges of the glass substrate 211 and the cover and main bodies 202, 201 is avoided. The box 20 is made from forming resin doped with conductive polymer. The forming resin doped with conductive polymer can, for example, include high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyurethane. Thereby, the box 20 can have electrical resistance of about 103 to 1012 ohms per centimeter, thereby helping prevent any buildup of static electricity that may damage the glass substrate 211. The forming resin is fabricated by expansion forming, whereby a size of the finished forming resin is 3 to 30 times its original size. This process can be performed by way of heating up the forming resin within a mold, or a low pressure forming process can be employed. A thickness of various portions of the cover 202 and the main body 201 is configured to be in the range from 15 mm to 100 mm.
The glass substrate 211 is received within the box 20 by the following process. Firstly, the bottom partition layer 212 is arranged on the base part 2012 of the main body 201. Then, the glass substrate 211 is arranged on that partition layer 212. Then, the top partition layer 212 is arranged on the glass substrate 211, thereby attaining the substrate package 21 within the main body 201. Secondly, the cover 202 is attached to the main body 201. If the number of glass substrates 211 is n, the preferred number of partition layers 212 is n+1. Fillers (not shown) can be provided for filling gaps between the glass substrate 211 and portions of the box 20, whereby shaking of the glass substrate 211 is avoided.
In various alternative embodiments, there can be fewer or more channels 205 than those described above, according to the particular binding capability required in a given application. If the glass substrate 211 is relatively small and appropriately sized, it can be arranged within the opening of one or more of the partition layers 212. The partition layers 212 can be substantially rectangular panels without openings. The top and base parts 2022, 2012 can include a plurality of concave and convex structures of various kinds, in order to provide further buffering (or cushioning) capacity.
Referring to
Referring also to
Typically, by adopting the protection film 303, the anti-static electricity capacity of the packing apparatus 3 can be extended from a normal lifetime of 1 year to about 3 years. The lifespan of the protection film 303 itself is about 2 years. Therefore an aging protection film 303 can be replaced with a new protection film 303 once the anti-static electricity capability of the aging protection film 303 has declined.
Referring to
In particular, a substrate package 32 of the packing apparatus 3′ includes two glass substrates 311, and the single partition layer 312 interlaid between the glass substrates 311. The substrate package 32 is received within a main body 301 of the packing apparatus 3′. If the number of glass substrates 311 is n (wherein n is greater than or equal to 2), the preferred number of partition layers 312 is n−1.
The packing apparatus 3′ includes the box 30, and two binding belts 304. The box 30 includes the cover 302 and the main body 301, and two parallel, U-shaped channels 305 at each of the cover 302 and the main body 301. The cover 302 and the main body 301 are engaged together, thereby forming a receiving space (not shown) receiving the substrate package 32 therein. The cover 302 and the main body 301 are secured together by the binding belts 304, which are arranged in the channels 305 of the cover 302 and the main body 301.
Referring to
The packing apparatus 4 includes a box 40, a plurality of partition layers 412, a pair of protection films 403 (only one visible), and two binding belts 404. The box 40 includes a cover 402 and the two main bodies 401. The cover 402 and the two main bodies 401 are engaged together, thereby forming two receiving spaces. Each receiving space receives a respective substrate package 41 (only one visible) and a respective one of the protection films 403 therein. The cover 402 includes a top part 4022. Each of the main bodies 401 includes four outer side walls 4013, four inner side walls 4011 protruding higher than the outer side walls 4013, a base part 4012 substantially perpendicular to the inner side walls 4011, and a peripheral trench 4014 at an outer surface portion of the base part 4012 corresponding in position according to the inner side walls 4011. Each substrate package 41 includes two corresponding partition layers 412, and a respective glass substrate 411 interlaid between the partition layers 412.
The cover 402 and the main body 401 each include two parallel, U-shaped channels 405. The inner side walls 4011 of the bottom main body 401 are engaged in the trench 4014 of the top main body 401. Then the cover 402 and main bodies 401 are secured together by the binding belts 404, which are arranged in the channels 405 of the cover 402 and the main bodies 401.
While various embodiments have been described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, the above description is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94137851 | Oct 2005 | TW | national |
