Electric lamp or space discharge component or device manufacturi – Process – With testing or adjusting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-04-24
Ramsey, Kenneth J. (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp or space discharge component or device manufacturi
Process
With testing or adjusting
C445S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic mounting/dismounting method and apparatus for an image display device in which a cathode ray tube assembly is automatically mounted/dismounted onto/from a process line for checking and correcting a tilt of an image display device like cathode ray tube assembly.
2. Background Art
Generally, an image display device, for example, a cathode ray tube, is for monitoring
1
s various image signals and has to undergo some checking and adjustment during manufacture to correctly display the image signals received by the display device. The checking of the relative position of the cathode ray tube versus the front housing, also referred to as the tilt of the display device, is usually checked while the display device is being conveyed along a conveyor belt on a pallet. Some techniques for conveying objects using conveyor belt systems are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,925 to Gallagher entitled Conveyor Belt Lift Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,942 to Beers entitled Apparatus for Loading and Unloading Circuit Boards Along a Conveyor System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,669 to Rich, Jr. entitled Method and Apparatus for Transferring Pallletized Loads, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,069 to Pritchard entitled Modular Cargo Drive Unit for a Conveyor, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,282 to Brannen entitled Depalletizing and Dispensing Apparatus and Method.
The cathode ray tube and the front case are adjusted to have the proper relative positioning, or tilt, prior to the attachment of the front case to the cathode ray tube. Unfortunately, however, the relative position often needs further adjustment before the front housing and the cathode ray tube are further secured to each other. To test the relative position of the cathode ray tube and the front housing, a worker removes the display device from the conveyor belt and checks the tilt of the monitor and makes the necessary adjustments. Afterwards, the worker places the monitor back on the conveyor belt. Disadvantages of requiring a worker to remove the cathode ray tube to check the Is tilt of a display device include requiring a worker to manually move the display device to check the tilt, the increased risk incurred of damage to the cathode ray tube during the manual carrying of the monitor by the worker, and the increased number of workers required to accurately test a large production line of monitors.
As such, I believe it may be possible to improve on the contemporary art by providing a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that eliminates the need for manual transportation of the monitor by the worker, that allows a worker to test the tilt of a monitor. that allows a worker to adjust the tilt of the monitor, and that increases the efficiency of display device manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that eliminates the need for the manual transportation of the display device by the worker.
It is another object to provide a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that allows the worker to test the tilt of the display device.
It is still another object to provide a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that reduces the time necessary to perform a tilt test.
It is yet another object to provide a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that eliminates the damage to the display devices that is associated with the manual carrying of the display devices by workers.
It is still yet another object to provide a device and a method for engaging and disengaging a display device from a conveyor belt that enhances the quality of display devices manufactured.
These and other objects may be achieved using a method of mounting and dismounting a display device from a conveyor belt. First, a fixture for supporting an image display device is elevated up to below a conveyor belt while the display device is loaded onto the conveyor belt. When the display device is completely loaded onto the conveyor belt, the fixture is elevated above the conveyor belt to engage the display device with the fixture. Then, a pattern for testing the degree of tilt is provided to the display device, and the degree of tilt is checked and corrected. The fixture is lowered below the conveyor belt, and the display device is re-engaged with the conveyor belt.
In addition, the introduction of the image display device is sensed prior to the elevation of the fixture to a position below the conveyor belt, and the complete introduction of the image display device is sensed prior to the mounting of the image display device onto the fixture.
According to another method of automatic mounting/dismounting of the present invention, when the image display device is completely introduced to the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is lowered down to below the fixture so as to mount the image display device onto the fixture. Then, a pattern for testing the degree of tilt is provided to the mounted image display device, and the degree of tilt is checked and corrected. The conveyor belt is elevated up to above the fixture, and the image display device is dismounted from the fixture and is transported by the conveyor belt.
To check and correct the degree of tilt of the cathode ray tube assembly according to the present invention, the fixture for supporting the cathode ray tube assembly is elevated up to below the conveyor belt during the cathode ray tube assembly where a front case and a cathode ray tube are not yet assembled is introduced onto the conveyor belt. When the cathode ray tube assembly is completely introduced onto the conveyor belt, the fixture is elevated up to above the conveyor belt so as to mount the cathode ray tube assembly onto the fixture. Then, a high voltage, a deflection voltage, and a tilt testing pattern is provided to the mounted cathode ray tube so as to display a pattern image onto the cathode ray tube. The pattern image is compared with the reference pattern marked to the cathode ray tube so as to adjust the degree of tilt to have the same degree of tilt. Then, the front case and the cathode ray tube are assembled, and the fixture is lowered down to below the conveyor belt so as to dismount the assembled cathode ray tube assembly from the fixture and transport the same by the conveyor belt.
An automatic mounting/dismounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is separated from a first, a second, and a third conveyor belt by a regular space, and includes a sensor for sensing when the image display device is introduced, mounted and ejected, a fixture on which the image display is mounted, and a fixture elevating member for moving the fixture onto or below the conveyor belt in accordance with a signal output from the sensor so as to mount/dismount the image display device onto/from the conveyor belt.
Here, the sensor is made up of a first sensor for sensing that the image display device is being introduced onto the conveyor belt, a second sensor for sensing whether the image display device is completely ejected from the conveyor belt or the image display device is completely introduced onto the conveyor belt, and a third sensor for sensing that the checked image display device is completely ejected from the third conveyor belt.
The fixture used in the present invention has a size corresponding to those of the image display device. In addition, an aperture through which the conveyor belt passes is formed at the center of the fixture, and protrusions for fixing the image display device are formed at the four corners of the fixture. A pair of protrusions formed in the front is lower than those formed in the rear, being based on the direction in which the image display device proceeds.
Preferably, a cushion member for protecting the catho
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Ramsey Kenneth J.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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