# US 2013/0152368 A1 · Work setting apparatus and method thereof

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- Number: US 2013/0152368 A1
- Document ID: US20130152368A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/686,693
- Filed: 2012-11-27
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-28
- Assignees: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Mitsunori KOKUBO; Yuki SUGIURA; Toru SUZUKI; Hidetoshi KITAHARA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152368A1

## CPC

- B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00)
- B23P 19/04: for assembling or disassembling parts
- B23Q 3/084: {using adhesive means}
- B23Q 3/088: {using vacuum means}
- B32B 38/18: Handling of layers or the laminate
- B32B 38/1841: {during laying up}
- B32B 38/1858: {using vacuum}
- B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method
- B32B 37/18: involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
- B32B 2309/68: Vacuum
- B32B 2315/08: Glass
- B32B 2457/202: LCD, i.e. liquid crystal displays
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/49865: by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]
- Y10T 29/53096: including means to provide a controlled environment
- Y10T 29/53439: including provision to utilize thermal expansion of work
- Y10T 29/5397: and assembling press [e.g., truss assembling means, etc.]
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A work setting apparatus includes a lower table 15 on which a first work W1 is set, an upper table 17, and a work holding unit 19 having a plurality of work holders 25 each having an adhesive to hold a second work W2. The work setting apparatus lowers the work holders until a predetermined short distance is established between the first and second works and drops the second work from the work holders onto the first work, thereby setting the second work onto the first work.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A work setting apparatus comprising:
a lower table, a first work being placed and set thereon;
an upper table vertically movable and positioned with respect to the lower table;
a work holding unit having a plurality of work holders, each of the work holders having a cylindrical main body provided with an opening that faces a top face of the lower table, being vertically movable and positioned with respect to the lower table, and holding a second work; and
a control unit of the lower table, the upper table, and work holding unit, wherein
in a state that the upper table is separated away from the lower table, the work holders are positioned between the lower and upper tables, the first work is set on the lower table, and the second work is held by the work holders,
the control unit is configured to move the work holders in a downward direction until a predetermined short distance is established between the first work set on the lower table and the second work held by the work holders, move the upper table in the downward direction so that the second work is dropped from the work holders, an uncured membranous material of the second work is brought into contact with the first work, and the second work is set onto the first work, further move the upper table in the downward direction so that the first and second works are pressed between the upper and lower tables, and continue the pressing of the first and second works for a predetermined time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The work setting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising
a heater that heats the first and second works, wherein
the control unit is configured to heat the first and second works at least while the first and second works are being pressed between the upper and lower tables.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The work setting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a vacuum atmosphere forming unit placing the first and second works in a vacuum atmosphere as the second work held by the work holders is set onto the first work set on the lower table; and
an adhesive arranged at the opening of the main body of each of the work holders and opposed to the top face of the lower table, wherein:
the control unit is configured to form a vacuum atmosphere by the vacuum atmosphere forming unit after the predetermined short distance is established between the first and second works, move the upper table in the downward direction until the second work is dropped from the work holders onto the first work, carry out the pressing of the first and second works between the upper and lower tables for the predetermined time, and after the predetermined time, cancel the vacuum atmosphere formed by the vacuum atmosphere forming unit.

### Claim 4

A work setting method comprising:
setting a first work on a lower table;
holding a second work having a plate-like base material and an uncured membranous material arranged on one face thereof by means of a work holder that employs one of adhesive plus vacuum suction, adhesive alone, and vacuum suction alone to hold the second work so that the second work is positioned above the first work set on the first table and the uncured membranous material faces a top face of the first work;
lowering the second work until a predetermined short distance is established between the set first work and the held second works;
dropping the second work from the work holder by lowering the upper table that is above the second work and is spaced away from the second work, so that the second work is set onto the first work; and
pressing the first and second works by further lowering the upper table so that the first and second works are held and pressed between the upper and lower tables.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The work setting method of claim 4, wherein
the process of pressing the first and second works includes heating the first and second works during pressing the first and second works between the upper and lower tables to increase viscosity of the uncured membranous material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The work setting method of claim 4, wherein:
holding a second work is engaging the second work with the work holder that employs one of adhesive plus vacuum suction and adhesive alone to hold the second work;
after lowering the second work until a predetermined short distance is established and before dropping the second work from the work holder, the method further includes placing the first and second works in a vacuum atmosphere; and
dropping the second work from the work holder is carried out in the vacuum atmosphere.