KR101795366B1

KR101795366B1 - Apparatus for manufacturing dome shape touch panel

Info

Publication number: KR101795366B1
Application number: KR1020160013987A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김홍채; 이광구
Original assignee: 주식회사 트레이스
Priority date: 2015-12-29
Filing date: 2016-02-04
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Also published as: KR20170078487A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a touch panel having various three-dimensional shapes such as a dome shape. An apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first mold, a first holder, a second holder, and a heater. Here, the first mold has a three-dimensional dome-shaped forming portion and a peripheral portion connected to the forming portion. The first holder fixes and moves the touch sensor module such that the touch sensor module is closely attached to the first mold. The second holder fixes the cover window so that the cover window is formed in close contact with the touch sensor module. The heater transfers heat to the first mold so that the touch sensor module and the cover window are thermally pressed and thermally deformed to the first mold.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING DOME SHAPE TOUCH PANEL [0002]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel, and more particularly to a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a touch panel having various three-dimensional shapes such as a dome shape.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a touch panel for an electronic device including a touch screen includes a flat display such as an electronic notebook, a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence (EL), and a cathode ray tube And is an input device which is provided on the display surface of the same image display device and directly touches the screen while the user views the screen to input information. The touch panel is divided into a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electro-magnetic type, a saw type, and an infrared type. The resistance film type and the electrostatic capacity type are mainly used for an electronic notebook, a PDA, a portable PC and a mobile phone.

Generally, the touch panel is manufactured in a flat shape and mounted on a portable electronic device, and the touch panel is generally manufactured by a cementation method using a roller.

1 is an exemplary view showing an example of a conventional method of manufacturing a touch panel.

1, the conventional touch panel 10 has a structure in which an adhesive film 12 is attached to a flat cover window 11 and a protective film 13 is attached using a roller 20 The touch sensor module 14 of the second embodiment is used.

On the other hand, although the interface using the touch panel is generally used for a long time, it is generally made only in a flat surface. However, along with the emergence of flexible displays, demand for stereoscopic touch panels is expected to increase. For example, in a field where design factors such as automobile electric field are very important, a more various three-dimensional shaped touch panel is required. Of course, recently, a touch panel having a gentle curvature instead of a flat surface has also been manufactured for the purpose of improving the aesthetic characteristic of the entire surface of a portable electronic device or further increasing the display characteristic. However, such a touch panel is implemented in such a manner that a planar touch panel is partially bent. However, since the three-dimensional shape of the touch panel such as a dome shape differs from one position to another, the use of a roller-attached type is not possible.

In addition, when the cover window and the touch sensor module are attached to each other and then the three-dimensional molding is performed, the material properties of the cover window and the touch sensor module are different from each other and the characteristics such as the thermal expansion coefficient are different. it's difficult. Therefore, a technique for manufacturing a touch panel of various three-dimensional shapes is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a touch panel having various three-dimensional shapes such as a dome shape.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch sensor module including: a three-dimensional dome-shaped molding part having a first contact surface that is in surface contact with a touch sensor module and formed convexly toward the touch sensor module; A first holder for fixing and moving the touch sensor module so that the touch sensor module is formed in close contact with the first mold, a cover holder for holding the cover window, The touch sensor module and the cover window are formed on the opposite side of the first contact surface of the molding part and are formed along the entire inner circumferential surface of the molding part and the touch sensor module and the cover window are thermally pressed to the first mold, And a plurality of vacuum holes penetrating through the thickness of the molding part and the heater, The sensor module provides an apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel, characterized in that air is trapped therein in the process of close contact with the first contact surface is discharged to the opposite side of the first contact surface through the vacuum holes.

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In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to increase the degree of contact between the touch sensor module and the first contact surface, a vacuum is applied between the first contact surface and the touch sensor module through the vacuum hole .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first mold is fixedly installed, and the first holder moves so that the combined touch sensor module is entirely brought into close contact with the first contact surface of the molding part so as to be thermally deformed, The holder may move so that the combined cover window is entirely adhered to the touch sensor module and thermally deformed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second holder is fixedly installed, and the first contact surface of the molding part is closely adhered to the touch sensor module coupled to the first holder, And the first holder may move so that the touch sensor module is closely attached to the cover window coupled to the second holder and thermally deformed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner further includes a blower for supplying hot air to a first space between the first mold and the touch sensor module and a second space between the touch sensor module and the cover window can do.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the forming portion has a concave second contact surface which is in close contact with the cover window, and a plurality of vacuum holes may be formed through the molding portion in the thickness direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first mold may be fixedly installed, and the first holder may be moved so that the combined touch sensor module is in close contact with the cover window in close contact with the second contact surface, have.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner further includes a vacuum for sucking air between the second contact surface and the cover window through the vacuum hole in order to increase the degree of contact between the cover window and the second contact surface can do.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum section may further remove air in a third space between the cover window and the touch sensor module.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensor module further includes a second mold for pressing the touch sensor module so that the touch sensor module is in contact with the cover window as a whole, and the second mold is formed so as to correspond to the second contact surface It is possible to have a pressing portion having a pressing surface of a convex shape.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second mold further includes an additional heater for transferring heat to the second mold.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner may further include a blower for supplying high-temperature air to the fourth space above the touch sensor module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensor module and the cover window may be attached together to form a touch pad having a smooth and natural dome-shaped solid surface, although the characteristics such as the thermal expansion coefficient of the cover window and the touch sensor module are different.

It should be understood that the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above effects and include all effects that can be deduced from the detailed description of the present invention or the configuration of the invention described in the claims.

1 is an exemplary view showing an example of a conventional method of manufacturing a touch panel.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view illustrating a dome-shaped touch panel manufactured through an apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view illustrating an example of a dome-type touch panel and a display module which are manufactured through the apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an exemplary view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
9 is an exemplary view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by like reference characters throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as being "connected" to another part, it includes not only "directly connected" but also "indirectly connected" . Also, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements, not excluding other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 and 3 are views illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a dome-type touch panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross- FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating an example of coupling a dome-type touch panel and a display module manufactured through the apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 5, the apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel may include a first mold 100, a first holder 200, a second holder 300, and a heater 400.

The first mold 100 may have a molding part 110 and a peripheral part 120.

First, the forming unit 110 may be formed as a three-dimensional dome shape. Here, the 'three-dimensional' may mean not three-dimensional but three-dimensional. In this embodiment, the forming unit 110 is described as being formed in a dome shape. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and the forming unit 110 may be formed into various three-dimensional shapes other than a dome shape.

The forming portion 110 may have a convexly-shaped first contact surface 111. A plurality of vacuum holes 112 may be formed through the molding part 110 in the thickness direction.

Further, the peripheral portion 120 may be connected to the forming portion 110. The peripheral portion 120 may be a portion connected to the outer portion of the forming portion 110, and the peripheral portion 120 may be formed in a planar shape. In addition, the peripheral portion 120 can stably support the first mold 100.

The heater 400 may transmit heat to the first mold 100. The heater 400 may be disposed in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the forming unit 110 to heat the first mold 100 while reducing heat loss generated in the heater 400. The heater 400 may be provided in the forming part 110 so that the heating of the forming part 110 can be performed more effectively and the touch sensor module T and the cover window C can be deformed Can be raised.

The heater 400 may be formed so as not to block the vacuum hole 112 formed in the forming part 110. If necessary, a vacuum hole 112 may be formed through the heater 400. [

In this embodiment, the first mold 100 can be fixedly installed. The first holder 200 may be provided on the upper side of the first mold 100, and the touch sensor module T may be fixed. The first holder 200 may be provided to fix an edge portion of the touch sensor module T. The first holder 200 can move in the direction of the first mold 100 and move the combined touch sensor module T toward the first contact surface 111 of the forming part 110 .

The touch sensor module T may include a transparent touch electrode (not shown). The touch electrode can be made of various materials and various shapes and configurations. For example, the touch electrode may be formed by patterning a transparent ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film on a substrate, and the substrate may be a material such as plastic or glass.

The first holder 200 can move the coupled touch sensor module T toward the forming part 110 and the touch sensor module T can be attached to the first contact surface 111 of the forming part 110 . The touch sensor module T can be thermally deformed by the heat of the first mold 100. As the first holder 200 moves downward, the touch sensor module T is moved to the first contact surface 111 as a whole It can be subjected to a close process. The first holder 200 can move until the edge portion of the touch sensor module T is in close contact with the peripheral portion 120.

Further, the second holder 300 may be provided on the upper side of the first holder 200, and the cover window C may be fixed. The second holder 300 may be provided to fix the edge portion of the cover window C. The second holder 300 can move in the direction of the first mold 100 so that the combined cover window C can be moved in the direction of the first contact surface 111 of the forming part 110 have.

The cover window C may be a glass material such as a soda lime glass substrate, an alkali-free glass substrate, or a tempered glass substrate, but is not limited thereto and may be made of a transparent resin material such as acrylic.

The second holder 300 can move the combined cover window C in the direction of the forming part 110 and thus the cover window C can be moved to the touch sensor module T As shown in Fig. The cover window C can be thermally deformed by the heat of the first mold 100 and the cover window C can be firmly adhered to the touch sensor module T as the second holder 300 moves downward &Lt; / RTI > The second holder 300 can move until the edge portion of the cover window C is in close contact with the touch sensor module T which is in close contact with the peripheral portion 120. [ The upper surface of the touch sensor module T may be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive (not shown) for adhesion with the cover window C, and the pressure sensitive adhesive may be in the form of a film or a coating liquid. Accordingly, the cover window C and the touch sensor module T can be joined together. According to the present embodiment, the touch sensor module T and the cover window C can be coaxially bonded together while molding the touch sensor module T and the cover window C at the same time, although the characteristics such as the thermal expansion coefficient of the cover window C and the touch sensor module T are different, A smooth and natural solid surface can be formed.

The apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel may further include a vacuum 500. The vacuum chamber 500 can suck air through the vacuum hole 112 between the first contact surface 111 and the touch sensor module T. [ As a result, the degree of contact between the touch sensor module T and the first contact surface 111 can be increased, and thus the touch sensor module T can be stably held in close contact with the first mold 100 .

The apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel may further include a blower 600. The blower 600 is moved to the first space S1 between the first mold 100 and the touch sensor module T and the second space S2 between the touch sensor module T and the cover window C, Air can be supplied. The hot air supplied from the blower 600 can help smooth the thermal deformation of the touch sensor module T and the cover window C. [ The heat by the heater 400 and the high temperature air supplied to the blower 600 can raise the temperature environment of the manufacturing apparatus of the dome type touch panel up to the deformation temperature of the touch sensor module T and the cover window C . The blower 600 can supply hot air by itself or simply implement a blowing function so that the hot air can be supplied by the heat of the heater 400. [

After the attachment of the touch sensor module T and the cover window C is completed, the heater 400 can stop supplying heat and the blower 600 can also stop operating. The dome type touch panel TP including the touch sensor module T and the cover window C can be separated from the first mold 100 by the touch sensor module T, Can be obtained. The dome-shaped touch panel TP thus manufactured can be combined with the display module D to realize a stereoscopic display panel. The dome type touch panel TP may be used, for example, as a switch, a rotary button, or the like.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first mold moves to press the touch sensor module and the cover window to form a dome-shaped touch panel. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, so a description will be omitted.

6 and 7, in this embodiment, the first holder 1200 coupled with the touch sensor module T is positioned above the second holder 1300 to which the cover window C is coupled, A first mold 1100 may be provided on the upper side of the first holder 1200.

Here, the second holder 1300 can be fixedly installed. The first mold 1100 may be provided such that the first contact surface 1111 of the forming portion 1110 faces downward. The first mold 1100 can move in the direction of the second holder 1300 so that the first contact surface 1111 of the forming part 1110 is connected to the touch sensor module T ) Can be pressurized. Accordingly, the touch sensor module T can be thermally deformed while the touch sensor module T is fully attached to the first contact surface 1111. Thereafter, the downward movement of the first mold 1100 continues and the first holder 1200 can also move downward, whereby the touch sensor module T can be moved to the cover window C coupled to the second holder 1300, And the cover window C can be adhered while being thermally deformed.

8 is an exemplary view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel according to the present embodiment, the first mold 2100 can be fixedly installed. The forming portion 2110 of the first mold 2100 may have a concave second contact surface 2111 which is in close contact with the cover window C. [ A plurality of vacuum holes 2112 may be formed through the molding part 2110 in the thickness direction.

A cover window C may be provided on the second contact surface 2111. In this embodiment, the cover window C may be in a state of being molded into the shape of the molding portion 2110 of the first mold 2100. This embodiment can be applied when an additional processing such as printing is required in the cover window C. [ That is, when additional processing such as printing is required for the cover window C, the dome-shaped cover window C can be formed first, and further work such as printing can be performed. Then, the cover window C in which such a work is completed can be seated on the first mold 2100.

The first mold 2100 may further have a support portion 2130 and the support portion 2130 may be connected to the peripheral portion 2120. [

The first mold 2100 may be provided with a heater 2400 to transmit heat to the first mold 2100. The heater 2400 may be provided under the first mold 2100. A cooler (not shown) may further be provided on the lower side of the first mold 2100. The cooler can lower the temperature of the first mold 2100 to prevent secondary deformation of the cover window C already formed by the high temperature of the first mold 2100. [

The apparatus for manufacturing the dome type touch panel may further include a vacuum 2500 and a blower 2600. The vacuum 2500 can suck air through the vacuum hole 2112 between the second contact surface 2111 and the cover window C so that the cover window C and the second contact surface 2111 ) Can be increased.

The first holder 2200 provided on the upper side of the first mold 2100 can move the combined touch sensor module T in the direction of the cover window C closely attached to the second contact surface 2111 . At this time, the vacuum 2500 may be configured to further remove air in the third space S3 of the cover window C and the touch sensor module T. [ In addition, the blower 2600 can supply hot air to the fourth space S4 at the upper portion of the touch sensor module T. [ Accordingly, when the touch sensor module T is thermally deformed, the high-temperature air pressure applied from above the touch sensor module T and the air from the lower side of the touch sensor module T escape to the third space S3 Is in a vacuum state, the touch sensor module T can be brought into close contact with the cover window C as a whole. According to the present embodiment, after the cover window C is first formed, the molded cover window C and the touch sensor module T can be attached together.

9 is an exemplary view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a dome type touch panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the touch sensor module can be pressed by a mold, and the other structure is the same as that of the third embodiment described above, so the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the apparatus for manufacturing a dome-shaped touch panel according to the present embodiment may further include a second mold 3000. The second mold 3000 may have a convex pressing portion 3010 corresponding to the forming portion 3110 of the first mold 3100 and the pressing portion 3010 may correspond to the second contacting surface 3111 The pressing surface 3011 may be formed to have a shape as shown in Fig.

The second mold 3000 may be provided on the upper side of the first holder 3200 and may be pressed to the entire surface of the cover window C while the touch sensor module T moves in the direction of the first mold 3100 have.

The second mold 3000 may further include an additional heater 3020 for transmitting heat to the second mold 3000 through which the second mold 3000 can be thermally deformed Can be effectively performed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only and that those of ordinary skill in the art can readily understand that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. will be. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single entity may be distributed and implemented, and components described as being distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

100, 1100, 2100, 3100: First molds 110, 1110, 2110, 3110:
111, 1111: first contact surface 112, 2112: vacuum hole
120, 2120: peripheral part 200, 1200, 2200, 3200:
300, 1300: second holder 400, 2400: heater
500, 2500: Generation 600,2600: blower
2111, 3111: second contact surface 3000: second mold
3010: pressing portion 3011: pressing face
3020: Additional heater C: Cover window
T: Touch sensor module

Claims

A first mold having a three-dimensional dome-shaped molding part convexly formed on the touch sensor module side and having a first contact surface in surface contact with the touch sensor module, and a peripheral part connected to the molding part;
A first holder for fixing and moving the touch sensor module so that the touch sensor module is closely contacted with the first mold;
A second holder for fixing the cover window so that a cover window is formed in close contact with the touch sensor module;
Wherein the touch sensor module and the cover window are formed on the opposite side of the first contact surface of the molding part and are formed along the entire surface of the inner circumferential surface of the molding part so that the touch sensor module and the cover window are thermally pressed to thermally deform the first mold, ; And
And a plurality of vacuum holes penetrating through the thickness of the molding part and the heater to prevent the air trapped in the touch sensor module from coming into close contact with the first contact surface, To the opposite side of the dome-shaped touch panel.

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The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a vacuum for sucking air between the first contact surface and the touch sensor module through the vacuum hole to increase the degree of contact between the touch sensor module and the first contact surface, Apparatus for manufacturing panels.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first holder is fixedly installed and the first holder moves so that the combined touch sensor module is in contact with the first contact surface of the forming part as a whole to be thermally deformed, And the touch panel is moved so as to adhere to the touch sensor module as a whole to be thermally deformed.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the second holder is fixedly installed and the first contact surface of the forming part is closely adhered to the touch sensor module coupled to the first holder so that the touch sensor module is thermally deformed, 1 holder moves so that the touch sensor module is closely attached to the cover window coupled to the second holder and thermally deformed.

The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a blower for supplying hot air to a first space between the first mold and the touch sensor module and a second space between the touch sensor module and the cover window. Manufacturing apparatus.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the shaping portion has a concave second contact surface which is in close contact with the cover window, and a plurality of vacuum holes are formed through the shaping portion in the thickness direction.

8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the first mold is fixedly installed and the first holder is moved so that the combined touch sensor module is entirely brought into close contact with the cover window which is in close contact with the second contact surface to be thermally deformed. Device.

9. The method of claim 8,
Further comprising a vacuum that sucks air between the second contact surface and the cover window through the vacuum hole in order to increase the degree of contact between the cover window and the second contact surface, Manufacturing apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the vacuum section further removes air in a third space between the cover window and the touch sensor module.

9. The method of claim 8,
And a second mold for pressing the touch sensor module so that the touch sensor module is entirely in contact with the cover window, wherein the second mold has a pressing portion having a convex pressing surface corresponding to the second contact surface Shaped touch panel.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the second mold further comprises an additional heater for transferring heat to the second mold.

8. The method of claim 7,
Further comprising a blower for supplying high-temperature air to a fourth space above the touch sensor module.