KR102252805B1 - Display lamination system and display lamination method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A display lamination system and a display lamination method using the same are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display lamination system comprises: a jig for supporting and fixing a first panel; a stage supporting and fixing a second panel disposed to face the first panel; an elevating guide movably inserted into a first guide hole formed in the stage to guide elevating movement of the stage; and a pressurizing unit for pressurizing and bonding the second panel to the first panel by elevating and moving the stage. Therefore, the display lamination system enables bonding while an aligned location between the first panel and the second panel is maintained.

Description

Display lamination system and display lamination method using the same {DISPLAY LAMINATION SYSTEM AND DISPLAY LAMINATION METHOD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a display lamination system and a display lamination method using the same, and more particularly, a display lamination system for bonding panels such as a display panel, a touch panel, and a window to each other in a manufacturing process of a display device, and a display lamination method using the same It is about.

Display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode display (OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and the like according to a light emission method.

The display device is made of different functional panels, and each panel is bonded to each other through an adhesive layer between the panels. Depending on the type of adhesive layer, there are optical transparent adhesive film (OCA, optical clear adhesive, hereinafter referred to as OCA) and optical transparent resin (OCR, optical clear resin, hereinafter referred to as OCR).

When the OCA is interposed between the panel and the glass to be bonded, the total thickness of the display device is increased due to the thickness of the OCA, and adhesion is poor.

In the case of OCR, to bond the panel and the glass, an adhesive layer is formed by applying OCR to the panel and selectively irradiating a UV light source.

The panel bonding process is performed by applying pressure to pressurize a plurality of panels. In the panel bonding process, the panels are disposed to face each other.

Bonding is performed after the panels are aligned, and positions of the panels aligned with each other may be distorted during the panel bonding process. There was a problem in that an error occurred in the operation process of the display lamination system, so that the panels were bonded in a misaligned state.

Korea Publication No. 10-2018-0083055 (Publication date: 2018.07.20.)

One technical problem to be solved by the present invention relates to a display lamination system capable of bonding while maintaining an aligned position between a first panel and a second panel, and a display lamination method using the same.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a display lamination system.

A display lamination system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a jig for supporting and fixing a first panel; A stage for supporting and fixing a second panel disposed to face the first panel; An elevating guide that is movably inserted into a first guide hole formed in the stage to guide the elevating movement of the stage; And a pressing unit that moves the stage up and down to press and bond the second panel to the first panel.

According to an embodiment, the elevating guide may be inserted into a second guide hole formed in the jig to guide the elevating movement of the stage.

According to an embodiment, an inner periphery of the second guide hole and an outer periphery of an end portion of the lifting guide may be magnetic.

According to an embodiment, the elevating guide may include a guide protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to an elevating movement direction, and the guide protrusion may be linearly movable along a locking groove formed in an inner circumference of the first guide hole.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a display lamination method.

In the display lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention, a jig for supporting and fixing a first panel and a stage for supporting and fixing a second panel disposed opposite to the first panel are aligned parallel to each other in a vertical direction. ; An elevating guide coupling step in which an elevating guide movably inserted into a first guide hole formed in the stage is coupled to a second guide hole formed in the jig after elevating movement; And a bonding step of bonding the first panel and the first panel by moving the stage up and down along the lift guide.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage of minimizing a positional shift between panels during a panel bonding process because the stage can be moved only in a vertical direction by an elevating guide when the stage is elevating.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a guide protrusion is formed in the elevating guide and moved along the locking groove to limit the movement path of the elevating guide in the Z direction, thereby improving the positional consistency between the areas of both panels that are bonded when the panels are bonded There is an advantage to be able to.

1(a) to 1(c) are views showing a first panel or a second panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating a display lamination system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3(a) to 3(d) are diagrams illustrating an operation process of a display lamination system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating a display lamination system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
5(a) to 5(d) are diagrams for explaining an operation process of a display lamination system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of a display lamination system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7(a) to 7(d) are diagrams illustrating an operation process of a display lamination system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flowchart illustrating a display lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed content may be thorough and complete, and the spirit of the present invention may be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

In the present specification, when a component is referred to as being on another component, it means that it may be formed directly on the other component or that a third component may be interposed therebetween. In addition, in the drawings, the shape and size are exaggerated for effective description of the technical content.

Further, in various embodiments of the present specification, terms such as first, second, and third are used to describe various elements, but these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Therefore, what is referred to as a first component in one embodiment may be referred to as a second component in another embodiment. Each embodiment described and illustrated herein also includes its complementary embodiment. In addition, in the present specification,'and/or' has been used to mean including at least one of the elements listed before and after.

In the specification, expressions in the singular include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, components, or a combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features, numbers, steps, or configurations. It is not to be understood as excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of elements or combinations thereof. In addition, in the present specification, "connection" is used to include both indirectly connecting a plurality of constituent elements and direct connecting.

In addition, in the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The first panel P1 and the second panel P2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be any one of a display panel such as an LCD and OLED, a PDP panel, a touch panel, or a window panel, or a plurality of layers laminated and combined. It may be a panel made of. In addition, the panel P may include a flexible panel made of a flexible material capable of bending, folding, and rolling, as well as a rigid panel.

In the present invention, description will be made on the assumption that the first panel P1 is a window panel and the second panel P2 is a display panel. In addition, in order to bond the first panel P1 and the second panel P2, an adhesive layer may be interposed between the first panel P1 and the second panel P2. OCA or OCR may be formed on the first panel P1 or the second panel P2.

The window panel assumed to be the first panel P1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a flexible film such as glass or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In this case, the first panel P1 and the second panel P2 may be divided into edge regions along the edges of the center region and the center region. The edge region may have a planar shape or may be orthogonal to 90 degrees along at least one direction to have a curved shape.

In Figs. 1(a) and 2 to 3(d), it is assumed that the first panel P1 and the second panel P2 have a plate shape, and Figs. 1(b) and 1(c) ), FIGS. 4 to 5D assume that the first panel P1 and the second panel P2 have edge bending along at least one direction.

1(a) is a view showing a first panel P1 or a second panel P2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a display lamination system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3(a) to 3(d) are views for explaining an operation process of the display lamination system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, each component constituting the display lamination system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

1(a) and 2 to 3(d), the display lamination system 10 faces the first panel P1 and the second panel P2 in a vertical direction, and the first panel P1 Alternatively, by moving the second panel P2 in a vertical direction, both panels P1 and P2 may be press-bonded. The display lamination system 10 may include a jig 100, a stage 200, an elevating guide 300, and a pressing unit 400.

The display lamination system 10 may be provided inside a vacuum chamber (not shown). The vacuum chamber (not shown) may be separated from the external atmosphere and provide a vacuum bonding environment therein. The vacuum chamber (not shown) may provide an internal space in a vacuum state.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 3(d), the jig 100 may support and fix the first panel P1. The support chuck 100 may be an electrostatic force or a vacuum suction type support chuck.

The jig 100 may have a plate-shaped support surface corresponding to the surface shape of the first panel P1. The jig 100 may be made of a material of high strength. Since the jig 100 has high strength, it is possible to support and fix the first panel P1 without deformation due to an external load.

According to an embodiment, when the jig 100 uses a vacuum adsorption method, a suction channel 110 and a second guide hole 130 are formed in one region of the jig 100, and a pump for a suction channel (not shown) ) Can be included. Further, when the adhesive (A) is a liquid-curable adhesive, it may further include a UV light source 120.

The suction channel 110 inhales and discharges air between the first panel P1 and the first panel support surface of the jig 100 to form a vacuum between the first panel P1 and the jig 100 can do. In the suction channel 110, a plurality of suction holes may be formed through the jig 100 at predetermined intervals. The arrangement, quantity, and size of the suction holes may be appropriately designed and changed according to the shape, material, and size of the first panel P1.

The suction channel pump (not shown) may be connected to the suction channel 110. The suction channel pump (not shown) may be a compressor capable of inhaling high-pressure air, but is not limited thereto.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the support chuck 100 may be made of a transparent or translucent material. Accordingly, the UV light irradiated from the UV light source 120 provided on one surface of the support chuck 100 is transmitted, and the liquid-curable adhesive layer A between the first panel P1 and the second panel P2 during the bonding process ) Can be UV cured.

At this time, the first panel P1 may be made of a transparent material. Accordingly, by transmitting the UV light irradiated from the UV light source 120, the adhesive layer (A) provided at one end of the first panel (P1) can be UV-cured.

The UV light source 120 may cure the adhesive layer (A) by irradiating UV light. The UV light source 120 may be provided on one surface of the jig 100, in particular, a rear surface of the contact surface of the first panel P1 supported and fixed by the jig 100. The UV light source 120 may include a power supply unit (not shown), an illuminance sensor (not shown), a temperature sensor (not shown), and a control unit (not shown).

The UV light source 120 may transmit the jig 100 and the first panel P1 to completely cure the liquid adhesive layer A. In the main curing, the degree of curing can be calculated in consideration of the correlation between the bonding pressure and the stacking amount of the adhesive layer (A). At this time, main curing refers to a state of curing that is higher than temporary curing and lower than 100% complete curing. According to an embodiment, the main curing is a cured state of 80 to 98% based on complete curing. it means.

The UV light source 120 may include a first UV light of 300 nm to 320 nm, a second UV light of 355 nm to 375 nm, and a third UV light of 395 nm to 415 nm. Since the optimum curing wavelength varies depending on the type of the adhesive layer (A), it is possible to control the curing speed of the adhesive layer (A) by selectively or simultaneously irradiating a plurality of wavelengths.

The power supply unit (not shown) may apply power to the plurality of UV light sources 120. The power supply unit (not shown) may selectively or all apply power to the UV light source 120.

The illuminance sensor (not shown) may measure the illuminance of UV light irradiated from the plurality of UV light sources 120. The illuminance sensor (not shown) may determine the UV light source 120 with low illuminance as a defect and output a replacement timing to the operator.

A temperature sensor (not shown) may measure the ambient temperature of the UV light source 120.

The control unit (not shown) may increase the current value flowing through the UV light source 120 having low illumination to constantly control the total amount of UV illumination. The control unit (not shown) may output an operation stop alarm to the operator when the temperature of the support chuck 100 rapidly rises.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 3D, the stage 200 may support and fix the second panel P2. The stage 200 may be opposite to the jig 100. The stage 200 may be an electrostatic force or a vacuum adsorption type support chuck.

According to an embodiment, when the stage 200 uses a vacuum adsorption method, in the stage 200, a suction channel 210 and a first guide hole 230 are formed, and the air flow path 220 and the suction channel are used. It may include a pump (not shown).

Referring back to FIG. 2, the suction channel 210 may inhale and fix the second panel P2 so as to face the first panel P1 in a horizontal direction. In the suction channel 210, a plurality of suction holes may be formed through the stage 200 at predetermined intervals. The suction channel 210 may be a component for forming a vacuum state between the second panel P2 and the driving chuck 200 by inhaling and discharging air between the second panel P2 and the stage 200. have. The arrangement, quantity, and size of the suction holes can be appropriately changed in design according to the shape, material, and size of the second panel P2.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the air flow path 220 may be connected to an end of the suction channel 210. The air flow path 220 may provide a vacuum pressure to the suction channel 210.

The suction channel pump (not shown) may be connected to the suction channel 210 through the air flow path 220. The suction channel pump (not shown) may be a compressor capable of inhaling high-pressure air, but is not limited thereto.

The stage 200 may be flexibly developed and deformed in response to the shape of the second panel P2 in a bonding process according to pressure. The stage 200 may be made of a material having a softer elasticity compared to the support chuck 100. Preferably, the second panel support part of the stage 200 may be made of silicone, urethane, rubber, or the like. Accordingly, when a force is applied to the second panel P2 and bonded to the first panel P1, the shape of the second panel support may be easily deformed.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 3 (d), the elevating guide 300 may guide the elevating movement of the stage 200. The elevating guide 300 may prevent displacement of the stage 200 in the X direction or the Y direction during the panel bonding process, thereby preventing a positional shift. The elevating guide 300 may support and guide the movement of the stage 200. The elevating guide 300 may include a guide protrusion 310.

A plurality of elevation guides 300 may be inserted into the first guide holes 230 provided in each region of the stage 200. The lifting guide 300 may be inserted so as to be movable in the Z direction inside the first guide hole 230. A plurality of first guide holes 230 may be formed to be spaced apart from the stage 200 at random intervals. The lifting guide 300 may move up and down while being inserted into the first guide hole 230 during the panel bonding process.

The elevating guide 300 according to an exemplary embodiment may be inserted and coupled to the second guide hole 130 formed in the jig 100 during elevating movement during the panel bonding process. The lifting guide 300 may be detachable from the second guide hole 130. During the panel bonding process, a first guide hole 230 may be formed in the stage 200 to correspond to the lifting guide 300, and a second guide hole 130 may be formed in the jig 100. The first guide hole 130 and the second guide hole 230 may have an inner periphery corresponding to the shape of the lifting guide 300.

When the lifting guide 300 moves up and down during the panel bonding process, the stage 200 may move up and down in the direction of the jig 100 at the same time. When the lifting guide 200 moves to a predetermined height, it may be inserted into the second guide hole 230 of the jig 100.

According to an embodiment, an outer periphery of an end of the lifting guide 300 and an inner periphery of the second guide hole 110 may be magnetic. The end of the lifting guide 300 means an end of the lifting guide 300 in a direction facing the jig 100. When the elevation guide 300 is moved closer to the second guide hole 130 by a predetermined distance, the elevation guide 300 may be inserted into the second guide hole 130 by an attractive force between magnetic bodies.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 3 (d), the pressing unit 400 may move the stage 200 up and down toward the jig 100 in the vertical direction. The pressing unit 400 may lift and move the stage 200 in the Z+ direction. The pressing unit 400 may move the stage 200 to press-bond the second panel P2 to the first panel P1.

Hereinafter, each component constituting the display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the ones that are common to the previously examined content will be omitted.

4 is a view showing a display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d) are operations of the display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram explaining the process.

Referring to FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c), the first panel P1 may be glass or a flexible film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) formed to have a curved shape at a bent portion of an edge region. The edge bent region of the first panel P1 may have a curved shape at a bent portion in at least one direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the edge bent region of the second panel P2 may have a curved shape at a bent portion in at least one direction.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A to 5D, the jig 100 may have an edge bent shape in which an edge portion is bent into a curved surface so as to correspond to one surface of the first panel P1.

Referring back to FIGS. 4 and 5(a) to 5(d), the stage 200 may support and fix the second panel P2 by an electrostatic force or a vacuum adsorption method. The stage 200 may have an edge bent shape in which an edge portion is bent into a curved surface so as to correspond to one surface of the second panel P2.

Hereinafter, each component constituting the display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the ones that are common to the previously examined content will be omitted.

6 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of a display lamination system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the elevating guide 300 according to an exemplary embodiment may have different diameters of a vertical cross section at an end thereof. The elevating guide 300 may have a narrower cross-sectional area toward the end. That is, the cross section of the lifting guide 300 may be narrowed in the Z+ direction. Unlike the second guide hole 130 having a constant cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction, the cross-sectional area of the lifting guide 300 becomes narrower toward the end, so that the lifting guide is more than the second guide hole 130 according to the lifting of the lifting guide. Can be easily inserted.

The guide protrusion 310 may be formed to protrude from the elevating guide 300 in a direction perpendicular to the elevating movement direction. The guide protrusion 310 may have a shape corresponding to the locking hole 231 formed in the inner periphery of the first guide hole 230. The guide protrusion 230 may be linearly moved in a vertical direction along the locking groove 231.

Hereinafter, each component constituting the display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the ones that are common to the previously examined content will be omitted.

7(a) to 7(d) are diagrams for explaining an operation process of the display lamination system 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7(a) to 7(d), when the lifting guide 300 moves up and down during the panel bonding process, the lifting guide 300 is formed by a flexible elastic part 140 provided at one end of the jig 100. The travel distance can be adjusted. The elevating guide 300 may be in surface contact with the ductile elastic portion 140 during elevating movement to stop the elevating movement.

The flexible elastic part 140 may serve as a stopper for limiting the elevating movement distance of the elevating guide 300. The flexible elastic part 140 may have a material different from that of other regions of the jig 100. The flexible elastic part 140 may be made of a flexible elastic material. Preferably, the flexible elastic part 140 may be made of silicone, urethane, rubber, or the like. As the elevating guide 300 moves in the vertical direction, the ductile elastic portion 140 absorbs the driving force of the elevating guide 300 when in surface contact with the elevating guide 300, thereby applying a brake to the movement of the elevating guide 300. have.

An operation process of the display lamination method using the display lamination system 10 of the present invention having the above components will be described.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a display lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the display lamination method includes an alignment step (S30), a lifting guide coupling step (S40), and a bonding step (S50), and a first panel, a second panel support fixing step (S10) and an adhesive layer forming step (S20), a degassing step after discharge (S60), may further include a complete curing step (S70).

Each step of the display lamination method will be described according to a time series.

In the step S10 of supporting and fixing the first panel and the second panel, the jig may support and fix the first panel. In the step S10 of supporting and fixing the first panel and the second panel, the stage may support and fix the second panel. In the first panel and the second panel support and fixing step (S10), the first panel and the second panel may be supported and fixed by any one of an electrostatic force or a vacuum adsorption method.

In the step of forming an adhesive layer (S20 ), an adhesive layer may be formed on the first panel or the second panel. In the step of forming the adhesive layer, a film-type OCA may be laminated or an ink-type OCR may be formed by an inkjet printing method.

In the step of forming the adhesive layer by the inkjet printing method (S20), the ink discharged from the inkjet print head is landed on the first panel or the second panel, and the UV curing machine may irradiate UV light to cure the landed adhesive layer.

In the alignment step S30, the first panel and the second panel may be aligned parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to each other. In the alignment step S30, a position alignment step S31 and an alignment check step S32 may be included.

In the alignment step S31, the positions of the jig and the stage may be aligned in the XY direction so that the first panel and the second panel face each other.

In the alignment inspection step S32, a camera module may be disposed between the first panel or the second panel to check whether the first panel or the second panel aligned in position is aligned.

In the alignment step S30, the position alignment step S31 and the alignment check step S32 may be performed at least once. That is, the position value of the first panel or the second panel whose position value has been changed in the position alignment step S31 may be checked for alignment in the alignment check step S32. At this time, when the alignment is checked and the position value is determined to be wrong, the position alignment step S31 may be performed again to rearrange the positions of the first panel or the second panel.

In the elevating guide coupling step (S40), the elevating guide may elevate and move in the jig direction together with the stage. In the lifting guide coupling step (S40), the end of the lifting guide may be coupled to the second guide hole formed in the jig according to the lifting movement. In the lifting guide coupling step (S40), the lifting guide may be moved up and down only in the Z direction while the stage is fixed in the XY direction while the lifting guide is coupled to the first guide hole and the second guide hole.

In the bonding step (S50), the pressing unit may move the stage up and down to press-bond the second panel to the first panel. In the bonding step (S50), the stage is moved up and down by the pressing of the pressing portion, so that the second panel may be bonded to the first panel by making surface contact over the entire area.

In addition, in the bonding step (S50), UV light may be irradiated to the adhesive layer by transmitting the first panel or the second panel at the same time as pressing. In the bonding step (S50), the adhesive layer provided between the first panel and the second panel may be cured. In the bonding step (S50), the intensity of the UV light may be adjusted so that the adhesive, which is not partially cured and thus fluid, flows to and fills the edge bending region.

In the degassing step S60 after discharge, the first panel is separated from the support chuck to discharge the second panel to which the first panel is bonded, and vice versa. In addition, in the degassing step (S60) after the discharge, it is possible to remove the fine air bubbles remaining inside the cured adhesive layer. In the degassing step S60 after discharge, a general degassing process capable of removing air bubbles may be applied.

In the complete curing step (S60), 100% of the adhesive layer from which air bubbles are completely removed may be completely cured.

Above, the present invention has been described in detail using preferred embodiments, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to specific embodiments, and should be interpreted by the appended claims. In addition, those who have acquired ordinary knowledge in this technical field should understand that many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

10: display lamination system
100: jig 110: suction channel
120: UV light source 130: second guide hole
140: soft elastic part
200: stage 210: suction channel
220: air flow path 230: first guide hole
231: jam groove
300: elevating guide 310: guide projection
400: pressurization part
P1: first panel P2: second panel
A: adhesive layer

Claims (5)

A jig for supporting and fixing the first panel;
A stage for supporting and fixing a second panel disposed to face the first panel;
An elevating guide that is movably inserted into a first guide hole formed in the stage to guide the elevating movement of the stage; And
It includes a pressing unit that moves the stage up and down to press-bond the second panel to the first panel,
The elevating guide is inserted into a second guide hole formed in the jig to guide the elevating movement of the stage.
delete The method of claim 1,
An inner periphery of the second guide hole and an outer periphery of an end of the lifting guide are magnetic.
The method of claim 1,
The elevating guide includes a guide protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the elevating movement direction,
The guide protrusion is linearly movable along a locking groove formed in an inner circumference of the first guide hole.
An alignment step of aligning a jig for supporting and fixing the first panel and a stage for supporting and fixing the second panel disposed opposite to the first panel in a mutually vertical direction;
An elevating guide coupling step in which an elevating guide movably inserted into a first guide hole formed in the stage is coupled to a second guide hole formed in the jig after elevating movement; And
And a bonding step of bonding the first panel and the second panel by moving the stage up and down along the lift guide.

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