KR102185254B1 - Auto clave apparatus with ultra violet ray curing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A chamber, a plate disposed in the chamber and on which the substrate module is mounted, a light irradiation unit disposed on the plate and for irradiating light to the substrate module, and a heating unit disposed on one side of the chamber and for increasing the temperature inside the chamber And it provides a light curing integrated autoclave device including a pressure unit for increasing the pressure inside the chamber.

Description

Light-curing integrated autoclave device {AUTO CLAVE APPARATUS WITH ULTRA VIOLET RAY CURING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a photocurable integrated autoclave device, and more particularly, to a photocurable integrated autoclave device in which a photocuring means is combined with an autoclave device.

The display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels provided in a region defined by a black matrix or a pixel defining layer. Display devices can be divided into liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), organic light emitting diode displays (OLED displays), etc. according to the type of display panel. .

A surface transparent member such as a touch panel for sensing a touch operation and/or a cover glass for protecting the display panel may be further provided on the display panel, and a transparent adhesive film for bonding the display panel and the surface transparent member A transparent adhesive such as optically clear adhesive (OCA) or optically clear resin (OCR) is used.

Specifically, in the process of bonding the display panel and the surface transparent member, the transparent adhesive film is vacuum-bonded with the surface transparent member in a state where a transparent adhesive film (OCA) is interposed on the display panel, and then a constant pressure and temperature is applied. It proceeds by removing air bubbles generated in (OCA).

On the other hand, as the demand for slimming of display modules has recently increased, a light (UV) curable transparent adhesive film (UV OCA), which can reduce the thickness of an adhesive layer than a general transparent adhesive film (OCA), is mainly used. In fact, when using a general transparent adhesive film (OCA), the thickness of the adhesive layer is about 200㎛, whereas when using a light (UV) curable transparent adhesive film (UV OCA), the thickness of the adhesive layer is 150㎛, about 50㎛. There is a reduction effect.

However, in the case of using a light (UV) curing transparent adhesive film (UV OCA), after the auto clave process to remove air bubbles present in the adhesive layer, a light (UV) curing transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) A process is added to cure.

That is, when using a light (UV) curable transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) as the adhesive layer, the thickness of the display module is reduced compared to the case of using a conventional transparent adhesive film (OCA), but the light (UV) A photo-curing process for curing the cured transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) is added to increase the process time.

Accordingly, in the present invention, an auto clave process for removing air bubbles present in the adhesive layer between the display panel and the transparent surface member and a light curing process for curing a light (UV) curable transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) are integrated. We would like to provide a light curing integrated autoclave device that can do.

A chamber, a plate disposed in the chamber and on which a substrate is mounted, a light irradiation unit disposed on the plate and for irradiating light to the substrate module, and a heating unit disposed on one side of the chamber and for increasing the internal temperature of the chamber And it provides a light curing integrated autoclave device including a pressure unit for increasing the pressure inside the chamber.

The light irradiation unit may include a light source unit including a plurality of light sources for irradiating light to the substrate module.

The light irradiation unit may further include a cooling unit disposed on at least one side of the light source unit to cool the plurality of light sources.

The light irradiation unit may further include a protection unit provided to surround the light source unit to protect the plurality of light sources.

The light source unit may be a surface light source.

The light source unit may be a point light source.

The light source unit may be an LED.

The cooling unit may use an air-cooled cooling method.

The cooling unit may use a water-cooled cooling method.

The protection part may be tempered glass.

The integrated light-curing autoclave device according to the present invention can shorten the process time because the auto-clave process and the photo-curing process are performed in one facility.

1 is a diagram illustrating a surface transparent member provided on a display panel.
2 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional autoclave device.
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light curing integrated autoclave device according to the present invention.
4 is a plan view schematically showing a light curing integrated autoclave device according to the present invention.
5 is a flow chart showing a treatment process using the light-curing integrated autoclave device according to the present invention.

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

The present invention is capable of various modifications and can be implemented in various forms, and only specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in the text centering on them. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and all changes, equivalents or substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention should be understood to be included in the scope of the present invention.

In the present specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only a case in which it is directly connected, but also a case in which it is connected through another device in the middle. In addition, when a part includes a certain component, it means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components unless specifically stated to the contrary.

In the present specification, terms such as first, second, and third may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second or third component, and similarly, a second or third component may be alternately named.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals denote the same or similar components throughout the specification.

1 is a diagram illustrating a surface transparent member provided on a display panel.

Referring to FIG. 1, a transparent surface member such as a touch panel 2 for sensing a touch operation and a cover glass 3 for protecting the display panel 1 may be further provided on the display panel 1. have. In addition, a transparent adhesive layer 4 such as a transparent adhesive film (optically clear adhesive (OCA) or transparent adhesive (optically clear resin, OCR)) is provided to bond the display panel 1 and the surface transparent members 2,3. Used.

Specifically, after interposing the transparent adhesive layer 4 on the display panel 1 and vacuum bonding the touch panel 2 thereon, air bubbles present in the transparent adhesive layer 4 using an autoclave process By removing it, the adhesion is strengthened.

In the present specification, a substrate module is a component constituting a substrate module, that is, a display panel, a surface transparent member, and a transparent adhesive film (optically clear adhesive, OCA) or a transparent adhesive between the display panel and the surface transparent member. Clear resin, OCR) is interposed and vacuum bonded. That is, the term "substrate module" is used as a generic term for a display panel, a surface transparent member, and an adhesive layer interposed between the display panel and the surface transparent member. Also, the display panel may include a flexible display substrate.

2 is a diagram schematically showing an autoclave apparatus according to the prior art.

Referring to Figure 2, the autoclave apparatus 10 according to the prior art is provided in the chamber 11, the chamber 11, the plate 12 on which the substrate module is mounted, and the inside of the chamber 11 And a pressurizing unit 13 and a heating unit 14 for maintaining the pressure and a predetermined temperature.

That is, after the substrate module S is mounted on the plate 12, the plate 12 is placed in the chamber 11. Subsequently, the inside of the chamber 11 is heated and pressurized using the heating unit 13 and the pressurizing unit 14. When the heating and pressing process is completed, the inside of the chamber 11 is cooled and depressurized, and then the processed substrate module S is extracted from the chamber 11 and the next process proceeds.

For example, when the substrate module S is in a state in which a display panel, a surface transparent member, and a transparent adhesive film (optically clear adhesive, OCA) interposed between the display panel and the surface transparent member, is vacuum-bonded, the adhesive layer After the auto clave process for removing air bubbles present in the light (UV) curing transparent adhesive film (UV OCA), a process for curing the light (UV) curing transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) proceeds.

Therefore, since the substrate module component is seated and placed inside the chamber 11 between a series of processes, and after the process, the substrate S must be extracted to the outside of the chamber 11 and transferred to the next process. The working time will increase.

Accordingly, in the present invention, it is intended to provide a light-curing integrated autoclave device including a light irradiation unit for light-curing in an auto clave device.

3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to the present invention.

3 and 4, the photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a chamber 110, a plate 120 disposed in the chamber 110, and on which a substrate module S is mounted, A heating unit 130 disposed on one side of the chamber 110 and for increasing the internal temperature of the chamber 110, and a pressing unit disposed on one side of the chamber 110 and for increasing the internal pressure of the chamber 110 (140) and disposed on the plate 120, and includes a light irradiation unit 150 for irradiating light to the substrate module (S).

The light curing integrated autoclave device 100 is used to mount the substrate module S provided outside the chamber 110 on the plate 120 and extract it from the chamber 110 after the process is completed. It may further include a conveying unit.

The transport unit includes a loading unit 161 on which a substrate module S provided from the outside of the chamber 110 is placed, an unloading unit 162 for extracting the substrate module S to the outside of the chamber 100, and Align the substrate S placed on the loading part 161 at a predetermined position on the plate 120, and after the process is completed, the substrate module S on the plate 120 is transferred to the unloading part 162. It may include an arm robot 163 which is a transfer means for alignment. In addition, the transport unit may be provided in the form of a conveyor.

A substrate module S input from the outside through a first opening/closing part 115 provided at one side of the chamber 110 may be placed on the loading part 161, and a substrate placed on the unloading part 162 ( S) may be extracted with the second opening/closing part 116 provided on the other side of the chamber 110.

The first opening/closing part 115 and the second opening/closing part 116 can be opened only when the substrate S is loaded and unloaded, and are sealed during the process to make the chamber 110 a sealed container.

That is, the substrate S inserted into the chamber 110 through the first opening/closing part 115 while being seated on the loading part 161 is on the plate 120 by the arm robot 163. It can be arranged in a predetermined position. In addition, after all processes are completed, the substrate S on the plate 120 is moved to the unloading unit 162 by the arm robot 163, and the chamber 110 through the second opening and closing unit 116 ) Can be taken out.

The chamber 110 serves to block the substrate S and the outside so that the substrate S is not contaminated from the outside during the autoclave process and the light curing process. In addition, the chamber 110 has a closed structure to maintain a constant pressure and temperature during the autoclave process. In FIG. 2, the chamber 110 is illustrated in a hexahedral shape, but is not limited thereto, and the chamber 110 may have various types of sealed container shapes.

A plurality of substrates S may be mounted on the plate 120. Further, the plate 120 may be provided in the form of a cassette including a plurality of layers on which a substrate is mounted.

The substrate S mounted on the plate 120 may be processed at a predetermined temperature and pressure in the chamber 110. When the substrate S including the display panel, the transparent surface member, and the adhesive layer is heated, the volume of microbubbles present in the adhesive layer expands. In addition, when pressure is applied to the volume-expanded microbubbles, defoaming is facilitated, and as a result, the display panel and the surface transparent member are more strongly adhered to each other.

The heating unit 130 serves to expand the volume of microbubbles existing in the adhesive layer of the substrate S by heating the internal temperature of the chamber 110 to a predetermined temperature. In one example of the present invention, the heating unit 140 uses an electric heater, and various types of heaters may be used in addition to the heating unit 140. In an example of the present invention, the heating unit 130 may increase the temperature in the chamber from room temperature to 100°C, preferably to 70°C.

The pressurizing unit 140 serves to pressurize the internal pressure of the chamber 110 to a predetermined pressure to remove fine bubbles existing in the adhesive layer of the substrate (S). In one example of the present invention, the pressurizing unit 140 may pressurize the internal pressure of the chamber 110 from atmospheric pressure to 1.2Mpa, preferably 0.6Mpa.

The light irradiation unit 150 may be modularized and provided in the chamber 110, and is disposed on the plate 120 in the chamber 110, and is placed on the substrate S aligned on the plate 120. It serves to irradiate light. That is, after the autoclave process, the light irradiation unit 150 performs a photocuring process of irradiating light, for example, ultraviolet rays onto the substrate S.

Above the light irradiation unit 150, a height adjustment control unit 171 for controlling the light irradiation unit 150 to be moved up and down in the chamber 110 and the light irradiation unit 150 are front and rear or left and right. A position adjustment control unit 172 that controls to be moved may be provided. That is, the light irradiation unit 150 is capable of reciprocating up and down, back and forth, and left and right within the chamber 110.

The light irradiation unit 150 includes a light source unit 151 including a plurality of light sources for irradiating light onto the substrate S, and a cooling unit 152 disposed at one side of the plurality of light sources and cooling the plurality of light sources And a protection unit 153 that is provided to surround the outside of the light source unit 151 and protects the plurality of light sources.

The light source unit 151 includes a plurality of light sources, and each of the light sources may be a surface light source or a point light source. The light source according to an example of the present invention may be an LED for light irradiation, for example, an ultraviolet LED (UV LED).

The cooling unit 152 may be provided on one side of the light source unit 151. The cooling unit 152 serves to prevent damage to the light source from an increase in temperature of the chamber 110 due to an autoclave process or an increase in temperature due to heat generation of the light source unit 151 itself.

The cooling unit 152 may be connected to a cooling device 180 provided outside the chamber 110 through a separate connection means 181. The cooling device 180 may be an air-cooled cooling device or a water-cooled cooling device. When the cooling device 180 is an air-cooled cooling device, heated air may be discharged through the connecting means 181 and cooled air may be injected. In addition, when the cooling device 180 is a water-cooled cooling device, a material kit may be further provided in the cooling unit 152, and heated cooling water and re-cooled cooling water may be circulated through the material kit.

The protection unit 153 may be formed to surround the light source unit 151 and must be formed of a transparent material so that the light generated from the light source unit 151 can be irradiated to the substrate S. As the glass through which light passes, low alkali borosilicate glass or quartz glass may be used.

5 is a flow chart showing a treatment process using the light curing integrated autoclave device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the light curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to the present invention, the step of mounting a substrate on a plate provided in a chamber, an autoclave process step of raising the temperature and pressure in the chamber to a predetermined temperature and pressure, and on the substrate. It includes a light curing step of irradiating light to and taking out the substrate from the chamber. Through this process, since the autoclave process and the photo-curing process are performed in one facility, the process time can be shortened.

3 and 5, the step of mounting the substrate S on the plate 120 is vacuum bonding with a surface transparent member in a state in which a light-curable transparent adhesive film (UV OCA) is interposed on the display panel. A step in which the substrate S in a state is mounted on the loading part 161 of the chamber 110, the first opening/closing part 115 of the chamber 110 is opened, and the substrate S is moved to the chamber 110 Including the step of being injected into the inside and the step of aligning the injected substrate (S) to a predetermined position on the plate 120 by the arm robot 163.

The autoclave process step includes raising a temperature in the chamber 110 by a heating unit 130 and raising a pressure in the chamber 110 by a pressurizing unit 140.

In addition, in the autoclave process step and the photocuring process step, the light source unit 151 may be continuously cooled by the cooling unit 152.

In the step of taking out the substrate S, the arm robot 163 moves the substrate S on the plate 120 to the unloading unit 162 and the second opening/closing unit 116 of the chamber 110 is While being opened, the substrate S on the unloading unit 162 may be taken out of the chamber 110.

Above, examples of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. You can understand. Therefore, the examples described above are illustrative in all respects and should be understood as non-limiting.

110: chamber 120: plate
130: heating unit 140: pressurizing unit
150: light irradiation unit 151: light source unit
152: cooling unit 153: protection unit
161: loading unit 162: unloading unit
163: arm robot 171: height adjustment unit
172: position control unit 180: cooling device

Claims (10)

chamber;
A plate disposed in the chamber and on which a substrate module is mounted;
A light irradiation unit disposed on the plate in the chamber and irradiating light to the substrate module;
A heating unit disposed on one side of the chamber within the chamber and configured to increase a temperature inside the chamber; And
A photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus comprising; a pressurizing unit disposed in the chamber and configured to increase the pressure inside the chamber. The photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation unit includes a light source unit including a light source that irradiates light to the substrate module. The photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light irradiation unit further comprises a cooling unit disposed on at least one side of the light source unit to cool the light source. The photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light irradiation unit further comprises a protection unit configured to surround the light source unit and protect the light source. The optical curing integrated autoclave device according to claim 2, wherein the light source unit is a surface light source. The optical curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light source unit is a point light source. The autoclave device according to claim 2, wherein the light source unit is a UV LED. The photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cooling unit uses an air-cooled cooling method. The photo-curing integrated autoclave apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cooling unit uses a water-cooled cooling method. The photo-curing integrated autoclave according to claim 4, wherein the protection unit includes glass that transmits light.

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