Panel pickup and placing method and combined pickup device for performing the method

A panel pickup and placing method, comprising the following steps:

• Step 1:
• providing a liquid crystal panel that comprises a display zone and a non-display zone, a machine table, a panel pickup device, and a vacuum suction device that comprises a frame that is configured to correspond to a shape of the non-display zone of the liquid crystal panel and comprising two juxtaposed rectangles that are combined to form a frame configuration having four side frame members connected to each other and a central frame member substantially parallel to two opposite ones of the four side frame members and having two ends connected to the other two opposite ones of the four side frame members and a plurality of suction nozzles mounted to an undersurface of each of the four side frame members and the central frame member of the frame so as to achieve uniform application of force to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the panel pickup device comprises a device body and a panel pickup fork mounted to the device body, the panel pickup fork comprising a plurality of support sections and a connection section connecting to an end of the support sections, the connection section being mounted to the device body, the supporting sections being fixed to the frame of the vacuum suction device and substantially parallel to the central frame member of the frame;
• Step 2:
• coupling the panel pickup device and the vacuum suction device together;
• Step 3:
• moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device engaging a surface of the liquid crystal panel;
• Step 4:
• the vacuum suction device sucking and adhering to the liquid crystal panel;
• Step 5:
• moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device lifting the liquid crystal panel for transfer to the machine table;
• Step 6:
• the vacuum suction device releasing the liquid crystal panel;
• and
• Step 7:
• moving the panel pickup device to have the vacuum suction device departing from the liquid crystal panel in order to position the liquid crystal panel on the machine table.