JP7550604B2 - Lighting inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting inspection device that performs lighting inspections of liquid crystal display panels.

After the assembly process, the liquid crystal display panel is subjected to a lighting inspection. For this reason, a lighting inspection device for a liquid crystal display panel is provided with an illumination device that irradiates illumination light onto the liquid crystal display panel from one side, and an imaging device that captures an image of the liquid crystal display panel when it is turned on from the opposite side to the illumination device. The illumination device includes a light source unit and an entrance side polarizing plate, and the imaging device includes a camera and an exit side polarizing plate, and the entrance side polarizing plate and the exit side polarizing plate are arranged, for example, so that their polarization axes are perpendicular to each other (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-39244 A

When adjusting the polarization axes of the entrance-side polarizer and the exit-side polarizer, it is common for an operator to adjust the angular position of the exit-side polarizer while observing an image captured by a camera with the angular position of the entrance-side polarizer fixed. However, when performing image analysis on the results of imaging with a camera, it is difficult to observe the image captured by the camera, making it difficult to adjust the angular position of the exit-side polarizer using conventional adjustment methods. On the other hand, even if an operator tries to adjust the angular position while visually observing the exit-side polarizer without using a camera, the camera gets in the way and makes it difficult to adjust the angular position.

In view of the above problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a lighting inspection device that can adjust the angular position of the exit polarizing plate of the imaging device relative to the entrance polarizing plate of the lighting device, even when the image captured by the camera cannot be observed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel having an illumination device that irradiates illumination light from one side thereof, a first imaging device that captures an image of the liquid crystal display panel when it is turned on from the opposite side to the illumination device , a machine base, and a transport mechanism that transports the liquid crystal display panel on the machine base , the illumination device including a light source unit and an incident side polarizing plate disposed between the light source unit and the liquid crystal display panel, the first imaging device including a first camera, a first exit side polarizing plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the first camera, and a slide machine that allows the first exit side polarizing plate to be moved relatively to the first camera along an in-plane direction of the first exit side polarizing plate. the first exit side polarizing plate is movable by the slide mechanism from a first position where it overlaps with the lighting device without overlapping with the first camera to a second position where it overlaps with both the first camera and the lighting device, the lighting device irradiates illumination light from one side onto the liquid crystal display panel that has reached an inspection area set on a transport path for the liquid crystal display panel, the first imaging device captures an image of the liquid crystal display panel when it is turned on in the inspection area from the opposite side to the lighting device, and the slide mechanism is capable of moving the first exit side polarizing plate out of the first camera and the first exit side polarizing plate .

In the lighting inspection device according to the present invention, the first exit side polarizing plate can be moved by the slide mechanism from a first position where the first exit side polarizing plate overlaps with the lighting device without overlapping with the first camera to a second position where the first exit side polarizing plate overlaps with both the first camera and the lighting device, so that the worker can adjust the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate while visually monitoring the first exit side polarizing plate from the opposite side to the lighting device at the first position. Therefore, the first exit side polarizing plate can be placed at an optimal angular position without the first camera. Also, since the first camera is not present at a position where the first exit side polarizing plate overlaps with the first exit side polarizing plate at the first position, the worker can easily monitor the first exit side polarizing plate from the opposite side to the lighting device at the first position without being hindered by the first camera.

In the present invention, the first imaging device includes a first polarizing plate holder that holds the first exit side polarizing plate, and a guide rail that constitutes the slide mechanism and one of the sliding members that slide against the guide rail can be connected to the first polarizing plate holder.

In the present invention, the first polarizing plate holder can adopt an embodiment including a first holder member to which one of the members is connected, and a second holder member that holds the first exit side polarizing plate and is held by the first holder member .

In the present invention, a second imaging device is provided that includes a second camera adjacent to the first imaging device in either the direction of transport by the transport mechanism or the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and a second exit side polarizing plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel that has reached the inspection area and the second camera, the second imaging device including a second polarizing plate holder that holds the second exit side polarizing plate, the second polarizing plate holder including a third holder member connected to the second camera, and a fourth holder member that holds the second exit side polarizing plate and is held by the third holder member, The first polarizing plate holder is provided with a first positioning mechanism that defines the angular position of the second holder member relative to the first holder member, and the second polarizing plate holder is provided with a second positioning mechanism that defines the angular position of the fourth holder member relative to the third holder member. The second positioning mechanism has the same configuration as the first positioning mechanism, so that it is possible to adopt an embodiment in which the second holder member can be aligned with respect to the third holder member at the same angular position as the angular position of the second holder member with respect to the first holder member.

In the present invention, the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism can each have a fitting portion that positions the first holder member and the second holder member, and the third holder member and the fourth holder member, at the same angular positions as each other.

In the lighting inspection device according to the present invention, the first exit side polarizing plate can be moved by the slide mechanism from a first position where it overlaps with the lighting device without overlapping with the first camera to a second position where it overlaps with both the first camera and the lighting device, so that the worker can adjust the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate while visually monitoring the first exit side polarizing plate from the opposite side to the lighting device at the first position. Therefore, the first exit side polarizing plate can be positioned at an optimal angular position without using the first camera. Also, since the first camera is not present at a position where it overlaps with the first exit side polarizing plate at the first position, the worker can easily monitor the first exit side polarizing plate from the opposite side to the lighting device at the first position without being obstructed by the first camera.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inspection device to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a liquid crystal display panel is installed in the inspection device shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is an XZ cross-sectional view of the inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a panel holder of the inspection device shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 2 is a side view of the first imaging device shown in FIG. 1 etc.; FIG. 6 is a plan view of a first polarizing plate holder and the like shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the first polarizing plate holder shown in FIG. 6 . 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for adjusting the angular position of the first exit-side polarizing plate shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a lighting inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes a lighting inspection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following description, mutually orthogonal directions are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and the transport direction, width direction, and up-down direction of the substrate 10 are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, respectively. Therefore, the following description will be given with X attached to the transport direction of the substrate 10, X1 attached to the upstream side, and X2 attached to the downstream side. The following description will be given with Y attached to the width direction of the substrate 10, Y1 attached to the right side in the transport direction X, and Y2 attached to the left side. The following description will be given with Z attached to the up-down direction, Z1 attached to the lower side, and Z2 attached to the upper side.

In the following description, in embodiment 1, a lighting inspection apparatus 100 provided with one imaging device will be described, and in embodiment 2, a lighting inspection apparatus 100 provided with another imaging device in addition to the imaging device provided in embodiment 1 will be described. Therefore, when describing embodiment 1, although there is one imaging device, the imaging device etc. will be labeled "first", and when describing embodiment 2, the imaging device etc. similar to embodiment 1 will be labeled "first" and the imaging device etc. different from embodiment 1 will be labeled "second". That is, in embodiment 1, the imaging device etc. is labeled "first", but a second imaging device etc. is not provided.

[Embodiment 1]
(Overall composition)
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting inspection apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the upstream side X1 in a transport direction X. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a liquid crystal display panel 1 is installed in the lighting inspection apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an XZ cross-sectional view of the lighting inspection apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1.

1, 2, and 3, the lighting inspection device 100 of this embodiment has a machine stand 110 and a panel conveying device 200 that conveys the horizontally oriented liquid crystal display panel 1 horizontally and linearly from the upstream side X1 to the downstream side X2 above the machine stand 110. In the liquid crystal display panel 1, a liquid crystal layer is provided between two substrates 10. In the lighting inspection device 100, an input area 111 for the liquid crystal display panel 1, an inspection area 112 for the liquid crystal display panel 1, and an ejection area 113 for the liquid crystal display panel 1 are arranged from the upstream side X1 to the downstream side X2 of the conveying path by the panel conveying device 200. In the inspection area 112, a first imaging device 30 that captures and inspects the light emission state of the liquid crystal display panel 1 when electricity is applied is provided facing downward. In the lighting inspection device 100, the inspection area 112 in which the first imaging device 30 is arranged may be in a darkroom state.

The panel conveying device 200 has a plurality of support rollers 50 arranged along the conveying direction X of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and along the width direction Y perpendicular to the conveying direction X, and a conveying mechanism 60 that moves the liquid crystal display panel 1 over the plurality of support rollers 50 along the conveying direction X. Each of the plurality of support rollers 50 is supported rotatably with its central axis of rotation in the direction along the width direction Y by a lattice-shaped frame 59 supported on the machine base 110 via supports 116.

In this embodiment, a plurality of frames 59 are arranged in the transport direction X, and a plurality of support rollers 50 are arranged in a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of frames 59 arranged in the transport direction X. In this embodiment, the plurality of support rollers 50 are arranged in five blocks 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 along the transport direction X, and in each of the five blocks 51, 52, 52, 54, and 55, the support rollers 50 are arranged in four rows in the width direction. Therefore, the support rollers 50 are arranged over a wide area.

The first block 51 from the upstream side X1 is provided with a support roller 50 with a larger roller diameter than the third and fourth blocks 53, 54 from the upstream side X1. The second and fifth blocks 52, 55 from the upstream side X1 are provided with a support roller 50 with a smaller roller diameter similar to the third and fourth blocks 53, 54 from the upstream side X1, and a support roller 50 with a larger roller diameter similar to the first block 51.

However, the multiple support rollers 50 arranged in the five blocks 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 are all arranged so that the tops of the roller surfaces are located at the same height position. More specifically, the height position of the roller surface of each of the support rollers 50 is adjusted for each of the blocks 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55, and then the height positions of the blocks 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 are adjusted, so that the height positions of all of the multiple support rollers 50 are adjusted.

All of the support rollers 50 have a roller surface 501 that supports the liquid crystal display panel 1 from below, which is made of resin. More specifically, each of the support rollers 50 is a bearing roller whose roller surface is made of a resin layer. The resin layer is made of polyacetal, polyurethane, polyamide, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, silicone, or the like. Such a support roller 50 is formed, for example, by insert molding an outer ring that faces the inner ring radially outward via multiple rolling members. The support roller 50 is also formed by attaching a resin layer to the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring.

(Configuration of the transport mechanism 60)
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the panel holder 20 of the lighting inspection apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the transport mechanism 60 includes a rectangular frame-shaped panel holder 20 having a mounting surface 21 on which the liquid crystal display panel 1 is placed, a linear guide mechanism 65 that linearly guides the panel holder 20 in the transport direction X, and a linear drive mechanism 61 that linearly drives the panel holder 20 along the transport direction X. In addition, the panel holder 20 is provided with a substrate holding mechanism 62 that fixes the liquid crystal display panel 1 on the mounting surface 21.

Of the four sides of the panel holder 20, a pair of first sides 26, 27 facing each other in the width direction Y are located lower than a pair of second sides 28, 29 facing each other in the transport direction X, and a mounting surface 21 is provided on the upper surfaces of the pair of first sides 26, 27. More specifically, in the panel holder 20, the support plate 280 constituting the second side 28 on the upstream side X1 and the support plate 290 constituting the second side 29 on the downstream side X2 are fixed on the support plate 260 constituting the first side 26 on the right side Y1 and the support plate 270 constituting the first side 27 on the left side Y2, respectively, so that the support plates 260, 270 are located lower than the support plates 280, 290.

A loading surface 21 is formed on the end of the upper surface of the support plate 260 that faces the support plate 270, and a loading surface 21 is formed on the end of the upper surface of the support plate 270 that faces the support plate 260. In this embodiment, the loading surface 21 is made up of the upper surfaces of multiple rectangular block pieces 22 that are arranged with their longitudinal directions aligned with the transport direction X relative to the ends of the support plates 260 and 270.

The panel holder 20 is provided with positioning rollers 24 that come into contact with the side surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel 1 to position the liquid crystal display panel 1. In this embodiment, the support plate 270 is provided with the positioning rollers 24 at two positions spaced apart in the transport direction X, and the support plate 280 is provided with the positioning roller 24 in the center in the width direction Y.

The substrate holding mechanism 62 includes a vacuum chuck mechanism 63 having a suction hole 630 opening on the mounting surface 21, and the suction hole 630 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) or the like via a flow path that penetrates the block piece 22 and the support plates 260 and 270. In this embodiment, the suction hole 630 is an elongated hole with its major axis oriented in the transport direction X.

The substrate holding mechanism 62 also includes a clamp mechanism 64 that presses and fixes the liquid crystal display panel 1 against the mounting surface 21. In this embodiment, the clamp mechanism 64 has a drive shaft 641 that extends along the transport direction X on the support plates 260, 270, a cylinder device 642 that drives the drive shaft 641, and a plurality of clamp members 643 connected to the drive shaft 641, and the postures of the plurality of clamp members 643 are switched collectively via the drive shaft 641. In this embodiment, the contact portion of the clamp member 643 that contacts the liquid crystal display panel 1 is made of an elastic member such as a spring, and the clamp member 643 presses and fixes the liquid crystal display panel 1 against the mounting surface 21 via the elastic member.

The positioning rollers 24, like the support rollers 50, have a roller surface made of resin. More specifically, each of the positioning rollers 24 is a bearing roller whose roller surface is made of a resin layer.

The linear guide mechanism 65 includes a pair of guide rails 66 that extend along the conveying direction X at a position that overlaps the support plates 260, 270 in a plan view, and a sliding member 67 that is fixed to the support plates 260, 270. The sliding member 67 has a recess 68 formed so as to straddle the guide rails 66. The guide rails 66 are fixed to the machine base 110 via supports 117.

In the conveying mechanism 60, the linear driving mechanism 61 is composed of a linear motor 610 that extends along the conveying direction X on the right side of the panel holder 20, and the linear motion member of the linear motor 610 and the panel holder 20 are connected via a connecting part 611.

(Configuration of the first imaging device 30)
FIG. 5 is a side view of the first imaging device 30 shown in FIG. 1 etc., and FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the first imaging device 30 as seen from the left side Y2 in the transport direction X.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the lighting inspection device 100, an inspection area 112 is provided in the middle of the transport direction X in an area where the pitch of the support rollers 50 in the transport direction X is the narrowest. In the inspection area 112, the first imaging device 30 arranged facing downward images the liquid crystal display panel 1 passing through the inspection area 112. At that time, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is supplied with power so that the entire surface is lit. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is a transmissive liquid crystal panel. Therefore, in the inspection area 112, an illumination device 70 extending over the entire width direction Y is provided on the lower side Z1 as one side of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the illumination device 70 irradiates illumination light from the lower side Z1 to the liquid crystal display panel 1 that has reached the inspection area 112. The illumination device 70 includes a linear light source unit 71 extending over the entire width direction Y, and an incident side polarizing plate 72 extending over the entire width direction Y between the light source unit 71 and the liquid crystal display panel 1.

3 and 5, the first imaging device 30 has a first camera 31 for imaging the liquid crystal display panel 1 that has reached the inspection area 112 from the upper side Z2, which is the opposite side to the illumination device 70, and a first exit side polarizing plate 32 arranged between the first camera 31 and the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the first exit side polarizing plate 32 is arranged in a crossed Nicol state with respect to the entrance side polarizing plate 72. Therefore, the first imaging device 30 can image the liquid crystal display panel 1 in a lighted state, and the number and positions of defects in the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be detected by performing image analysis on the imaging result. Therefore, the image captured by the first imaging device 30 is output as an image signal to an image analyzing device (not shown) via a cable (not shown), and cannot be directly monitored.

The liquid crystal display panel 1 has a wider imaging range than the first imaging device 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the lighting inspection device 100 is provided with a camera drive mechanism 300 that drives the first imaging device 30 in the width direction Y. Therefore, by combining the driving by the camera drive mechanism 300 with the driving by the panel conveying device 200, it is possible to image the entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

In addition, a static electricity eliminator 40 is provided at a position adjacent to the first imaging device 30 on the upstream side X1, and the static electricity eliminator 40 performs static electricity elimination and dust removal on the liquid crystal display panel 1. In this embodiment, the static electricity eliminator 40 is also provided with a static electricity eliminator drive mechanism 400 that drives the static electricity eliminator 40 in the width direction Y.

(Transportation operation, etc.)
When inspecting the liquid crystal display panel 1 in the lighting inspection apparatus 100 configured in this manner, an operator places the liquid crystal display panel 1 on the panel holder 20 while pausing the vacuum chuck mechanism 63 and the clamp mechanism 64 shown in FIG. 4 , and positions the liquid crystal display panel 1 on the panel holder 20. At this time, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is abutted against the roller surface of the positioning roller 24 to position the liquid crystal display panel 1.

Next, the vacuum chuck mechanism 63 and the clamp mechanism 64 are operated to fix the liquid crystal display panel 1 to the panel holder 20. In this state, the roller surface 501 of the support roller 50 contacts the liquid crystal display panel 1 from below, and the height position of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is determined by the roller surface 501. Next, the linear drive mechanism 61 is operated to transport the panel holder 20 to the downstream side X2. At that time, the liquid crystal display panel 1 runs on the support roller 50.

Next, when the liquid crystal display panel 1 reaches the inspection area 112, the linear drive mechanism 61 stops, and the first imaging device 30 images the display area of the liquid crystal display panel 1. At that time, the camera drive mechanism 300 drives the first imaging device 30 in the width direction Y, and the first imaging device 30 images an area of the liquid crystal display panel 1 that is shifted in the width direction Y. This operation is repeated, and the entire width direction Y of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is imaged by the first imaging device 30. Next, the linear drive mechanism 61 moves the liquid crystal display panel 1 to the downstream side X2, and in the same procedure as above, the entire width direction Y of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is imaged by the first imaging device 30 at a position of the liquid crystal display panel 1 that is shifted in the transport direction X from the previous time. This operation is repeated, and the entire liquid crystal display panel 1 is imaged by the first imaging device 30.

The linear drive mechanism 61 then moves the liquid crystal display panel 1 further downstream X2, and stops transporting the liquid crystal display panel 1 when the liquid crystal display panel 1 reaches the ejection area 113. Next, the vacuum chuck mechanism 63 and the clamp mechanism 64 are put into a pause state, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 that has finished being imaged is ejected, after which the linear drive mechanism 61 returns the now empty panel holder 20 to the loading area 111 on the upstream side X1. Thereafter, the same operations are repeated.

In this manner, in the lighting inspection apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is supported by the roller surfaces 501 of the plurality of support rollers 50 arranged along each of the conveying direction X and the width direction Y of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 is conveyed by the conveying mechanism 60, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 is made to run on the plurality of support rollers 50.
01 is made of resin. Therefore, unlike when the liquid crystal display panel 1 is transported by a roller conveyor, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is less likely to vibrate when transported. This makes it possible to suppress partial lifting of the liquid crystal display panel 1 from the support rollers 50. Therefore, even if the liquid crystal display panel 1 is enlarged, the height position and attitude of the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be properly maintained, so that the entire liquid crystal display panel 1 is located within the depth of field of the first imaging device 30. Therefore, the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be properly imaged by the first imaging device 30.

In addition, in the lighting inspection device 100, the transport mechanism 60 uses the panel holder 20 that holds the liquid crystal display panel 1, so the mass of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the mass of the panel holder 20 are added to the liquid crystal display panel 1. Therefore, the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be reliably brought into contact with the support roller 50. Therefore, the height position and posture of the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be precisely controlled.

In addition, of the four sides of the panel holder 20, the pair of first sides 26, 27 that face each other in the width direction Y are positioned lower than the pair of second sides 28, 29 that face each other in the transport direction X, so it is easy to provide the support rollers 50 so that they do not interfere with the second sides 28, 29 that are located in the transport direction X of the liquid crystal display panel 1.

The panel holder 20 is also provided with positioning rollers 24 that contact the sides of the liquid crystal display panel 1 to position the liquid crystal display panel 1, allowing the liquid crystal display panel 1 to be positioned at a predetermined position on the panel holder 20.

(Detailed configuration of the first imaging device 30)
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the first polarizing plate holder 33 etc. shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the first polarizing plate holder 33 shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a slide mechanism 35 that allows the first exit side polarizing plate 32 to move relative to the first camera 31 along the in-plane direction of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 is faced to the first imaging device 30. In this embodiment, the slide mechanism 35 moves the first exit side polarizing plate 32 out of the first camera 31 and the first exit side polarizing plate 32.

More specifically, the first imaging device 30 includes a first polarizing plate holder 33 that holds a first exit side polarizing plate 32, and the first polarizing plate holder 33 is connected to one of the guide rails constituting the slide mechanism 35 and the sliding member that slides against the guide rail. In this embodiment, the first camera 31 is held by a camera holder 310, and a connecting plate 311 is connected to the camera holder 310. A guide rail 351 that extends from the first polarizing plate holder 33 to the right side Y1 in the width direction Y is connected to the first polarizing plate holder 33 in the width direction Y, and the connecting plate 311 holds a sliding member 352 that slides against the guide rail 351.

Therefore, as described later with reference to FIG. 8, the first polarizing plate holder 33 can slide to the left side Y2 in the width direction Y while holding the first exit side polarizing plate 32. Therefore, the first exit side polarizing plate 32 can be moved by the slide mechanism 35 from a first position P1 where it overlaps with the lighting device 70 without overlapping with the first camera 31 to a second position P2 where it overlaps with both the first camera 31 and the lighting device 70. Note that since the lighting device 70 extends in the width direction Y, it is always located at the first position P1 and the second position P2.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the first polarizing plate holder 33 includes a first holder member 36 to which a guide rail 351 is connected, and a second holder member 37 that holds the first exit side polarizing plate 32.
The second holder member 37 is held on the upper surface side of the first holder member 36. The first holder member 36 is in the shape of a rectangular frame with a circular opening 360 formed on the inside, and illumination light can pass through the opening 360. A knob 365 that is held by an operator when manually sliding the first polarizing plate holder 33 is connected to the first holder member 36.

The second holder member 37 has a rectangular outer frame 371 with a circular opening 372 formed therein, and an annular inner frame 376 arranged inside the opening 372 of the outer frame 371. The inside of the inner frame 376 is an opening 377 through which illumination light passes. An annular plate portion 379 is formed at the upper end portion of the inner frame 376, and the outer peripheral end portion of the plate portion 379 overlaps the outer frame 371 from the upper side Z2. Therefore, the inner frame 376 is supported by the outer frame 371 from the lower side Z1 so as to be rotatable within an angular range of 360°. In addition, the plate portion 379 constitutes a portion on which the first output side polarizing plate 32 is placed from the upper side Z2. Furthermore, the outer frame 371 has holes 37 that open in the radial direction at two locations in the circumferential direction, and the inner frame 376 can be fixed to the outer frame 371 by fastening screws (not shown) to the holes 373. The second holder member 37 is provided with a scale 375 that indicates the relative angular position of the outer frame 371 and the inner frame 376.

The first polarizer holder 33 is configured with a first positioning mechanism 336 that determines the angular position of the second holder member 37 relative to the first holder member 36. In this embodiment, the first positioning mechanism 336 is composed of a fitting portion 338 that has holes 378 that penetrate the second holder member 37 in the up-down direction Z at two circumferential locations, and a pin 368 that protrudes from the first holder member 36 to the upper side Z2 and fits into the hole 378. In this embodiment, the hole 378 is formed in the outer frame 371 of the second holder member 37.

(Method of Adjusting the Angular Position of the First Exit Side Polarizing Plate 32, etc.)
8 is an explanatory diagram of a method for adjusting the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 shown in FIG. 5, and shows in plan view how the first exit side polarizing plate 32 is slid. In the lighting inspection device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when performing a lighting inspection of the liquid crystal display panel 1, it is necessary to perform adjustments such as arranging the polarization axis of the entrance side polarizing plate 72 of the lighting device 70 and the polarization axis of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 of the first imaging device 30 in a crossed Nicol state. Here, since the entrance side polarizing plate 72 extends in the width direction Y, it is difficult to adjust the angular position. For this reason, the entrance side polarizing plate 72 is fixed, while the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 of the first imaging device 30 is adjusted.

In this embodiment, in order to perform such an adjustment, in FIG. 8, the worker first uses the slide mechanism 35 to move the first holder member 36 of the first polarizing plate holder 33 to the first position P1 where it overlaps with the lighting device 70 without overlapping with the first camera 31, and then overlaps the outer frame 371 of the second holder member 37 on the first holder member 36. At that time, the outer frame 371 of the second holder member 37 is positioned relative to the first holder member 36 by the first positioning mechanism 336 consisting of an engagement portion 338 in which the pin 368 of the first holder member 36 fits into the hole 378 of the second holder member 37.

Next, the inner frame 376 is placed inside the opening 372 of the outer frame 371 from the upper side Z2. The first exit side polarizing plate 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the inner frame 376 in advance by a method such as gluing. Next, the liquid crystal display panel 1 located between the first exit side polarizing plate 32 and the lighting device 70 is energized so that all pixels of the liquid crystal display panel 1 are in the ON state, while the worker visually monitors the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1 from the upper side Z2 of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 while changing the angular position of the inner frame 376 together with the first exit side polarizing plate 32. In Figures 6 and 8, the proper angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 is indicated by a solid line, and the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 during the angle adjustment is indicated by a two-dot chain line 320.

Then, the worker adjusts the angular positions of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 and the inner frame 376 to the angular position where the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1 is the brightest, and then fastens the inner frame 376 to the outer frame 371 with screws (not shown) in the holes 373 of the outer frame 371. As a result, the first exit side polarizing plate 32 is fixed to the first polarizing plate holder 33 at the angular position where the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 1 is the brightest.

Next, the worker uses the slide mechanism 35 to move the first polarizing plate holder 33, with the first exit side polarizing plate 32 fixed at the optimal angle, to the second position P2 where it overlaps with both the first camera 31 and the lighting device 70. After that, the lighting inspection device 100 is operated to sequentially perform lighting inspections on the liquid crystal display panels 1 that are being transported.

In this manner, in the lighting inspection device 100 of this embodiment, the slide mechanism 35 can move the first exit side polarizing plate 32 from the first position P1, where the first exit side polarizing plate 32 overlaps with the lighting device 70 without overlapping with the first camera 31, to the second position P2, where the first exit side polarizing plate 32 overlaps with both the first camera 31 and the lighting device 70. Therefore, at the first position P1, the worker can adjust the angular position of the first exit side polarizing plate 32 while visually monitoring the first exit side polarizing plate 32 from the opposite side to the lighting device 70. Therefore, the first exit side polarizing plate 32 can be positioned at an optimal angular position without the first camera 31. Also, at the first position P1, the first camera 31 is not present at a position overlapping with the first exit side polarizing plate 32, so the worker can easily visually monitor the first exit side polarizing plate 32 from the opposite side to the lighting device 70 without being obstructed by the first camera 31.

[Embodiment 2]
9 is an explanatory diagram of a lighting inspection apparatus 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, two imaging devices are shown as viewed from the upper side Z2. Note that the basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used to designate common parts and their description will be omitted.

The lighting inspection device 100 shown in FIG. 9 includes, in addition to the first imaging device 30 described in embodiment 1, a second imaging device 30X adjacent to the first imaging device 30 in either the transport direction X or the width direction Y. In this embodiment, the second imaging device 30X is disposed in a position adjacent to the first imaging device 30 in the width direction Y. The second imaging device 30X includes a second camera 31X having the same configuration as the first camera 31, a second exit side polarizing plate 32X disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 1 that has reached the inspection area 112 and the second camera 31X, and a second polarizing plate holder 33X that holds the second exit side polarizing plate 32X. Here, the first imaging device 30 has the slide mechanism 35 described in embodiment 1, but the second imaging device 30X does not have the slide mechanism 35.

The second polarizing plate holder 33X includes a third holder member 36X connected to the second camera 31X via a connecting plate 311, and a fourth holder member 37X held by the third holder member 36X, and the fourth holder member 37X holds the second exit side polarizing plate 32X. The fourth holder member 37X has the same configuration as the second holder member 37, and includes an outer frame 371X having the same configuration as the outer frame 371 of the second holder member 37, and an inner frame 376X having the same configuration as the inner frame 376 of the second holder member 37.

In the second imaging device 30X, the second polarizing plate holder 33X is provided with a second positioning mechanism 336X that defines the angular position of the fourth holder member 37X relative to the third holder member 36X. The second positioning mechanism 336X has the same configuration as the first positioning mechanism 336 of the first imaging device 30. More specifically, the second positioning mechanism 336X is composed of a fitting portion 338X that has holes 378X that penetrate the fourth holder member 37X in the up-down direction Z at two locations in the circumferential direction and a pin 368X that protrudes from the third holder member 36X to the upper side Z2 and fits into the hole 378X. Therefore, in the second imaging device 30X, in the second polarizing plate holder 33X, it is possible to align the second holder member 37 of the first polarizing plate holder 33 with respect to the third holder member 36X to the same angular position as the angular position of the second holder member 37 with respect to the first holder member 36.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in the first imaging device 30, the second holder member 37 having the first exit side polarizing plate 32 adjusted to the appropriate angular position by the angle adjustment at the first position P1 can be attached to the third holder member 36X of the second imaging device 30X as the fourth holder member 37X having the second exit side polarizing plate 32X. In other words, the angular position of the second exit side polarizing plate 32X can be adjusted in the first imaging device 30. Therefore, even if the second polarizing plate holder 33X cannot be slid in the second imaging device 30X due to space constraints, etc., the second exit side polarizing plate 32X can be positioned at the optimal angular position.

In this embodiment, one first imaging device 30 and one second imaging device 30X are provided, but if three or more imaging devices are provided, it is also possible to designate the imaging device located at the end of the three or more imaging devices as the first imaging device 30 and the other imaging devices as the second imaging device 30X.

1...Liquid crystal display panel, 10...Substrate, 20...Panel holder, 21...Placement surface, 30...First imaging device, 30X...Second imaging device, 31...First camera, 31X...Second camera, 32...First exit side polarizing plate, 32X...Second exit side polarizing plate, 33...First polarizing plate holder, 33X...Second polarizing plate holder, 35...Slide mechanism, 36...First holder member, 36X...Third holder member, 37...Second holder member, 37X...Fourth holder member, 50...Support roller, 60...Transport mechanism, 61...Linear drive mechanism, 62...Substrate holding mechanism, 63...Vacuum chuck mechanism, 64...Clamp mechanism, 65...Linear gas Guide mechanism, 66, 351...guide rail, 67, 352...sliding member, 70...illumination device, 71...light source unit, 72...entrance side polarizing plate, 100...lighting inspection device, 112...inspection area, 200...panel conveying device, 310...camera holder, 311...connecting plate, 336...first positioning mechanism, 336X...second positioning mechanism, 338, 338X...fitting part, 360, 372, 377...opening, 368, 368X...pin, 371, 371X...outer frame, 376, 376X...inner frame, 378, 378X...hole, P1...first position, P2...second position, X...conveying direction, Y...width direction, Z...up-down direction

Claims (5)

an illumination device that irradiates illumination light onto the liquid crystal display panel from one side;
a first imaging device that captures an image when the liquid crystal display panel is turned on from an opposite side to the illumination device;
Machine base and
a conveying mechanism for conveying a liquid crystal display panel on the machine base;
having
the illumination device includes a light source unit and an incident-side polarizing plate disposed between the light source unit and the liquid crystal display panel,
the first imaging device includes a first camera, a first output side polarizing plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the first camera, and a slide mechanism that enables the first output side polarizing plate to move relatively to the first camera along an in-plane direction of the first output side polarizing plate,
the first output-side polarizing plate is movable by the slide mechanism from a first position where the first output-side polarizing plate overlaps the lighting device without overlapping the first camera to a second position where the first output-side polarizing plate overlaps both the first camera and the lighting device;
the illumination device irradiates illumination light from one side of the liquid crystal display panel that has reached the inspection area in an inspection area set on a transport path of the liquid crystal display panel;
the first imaging device captures an image of the liquid crystal display panel in the inspection area when the liquid crystal display panel is turned on from a side opposite to the illumination device;
The lighting inspection device , wherein the slide mechanism is capable of moving the first exit side polarizing plate out of the first camera and the first exit side polarizing plate . 2. The lighting inspection device according to claim 1 ,
the first imaging device includes a first polarizing plate holder that holds the first exit side polarizing plate,
The lighting inspection device is characterized in that the first polarizing plate holder is connected to a guide rail constituting the slide mechanism and one of a sliding member that slides against the guide rail. 3. The lighting inspection device according to claim 2 ,
The lighting inspection device is characterized in that the first polarizing plate holder includes a first holder member to which the one of the members is connected, and a second holder member that holds the first exit side polarizing plate and is held by the first holder member . 4. The lighting inspection device according to claim 3 ,
a second imaging device including a second camera adjacent to the first imaging device in one of the directions of conveyance by the conveyance mechanism and the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction by the conveyance mechanism, and a second exit side polarizing plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel that has reached the inspection area and the second camera;
the second imaging device includes a second polarizing plate holder that holds the second exit side polarizing plate,
the second polarizing plate holder includes a third holder member connected to the second camera, and a fourth holder member that holds the second output side polarizing plate and is held by the third holder member,
the fourth holder member has the same configuration as the second holder member,
the first polarizing plate holder is provided with a first positioning mechanism that defines an angular position of the second holder member relative to the first holder member;
the second polarizing plate holder is provided with a second positioning mechanism that defines an angular position of the fourth holder member relative to the third holder member;
The second positioning mechanism has the same configuration as the first positioning mechanism, thereby enabling the second holder member to be aligned to the same angular position relative to the third holder member as the angular position of the second holder member relative to the first holder member. 5. The lighting inspection apparatus according to claim 4 ,
A lighting inspection device characterized in that the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism each have a mating portion that positions the first holder member and the second holder member, and the third holder member and the fourth holder member, at the same angular positions as each other.

Images