KR20060101796A - Apparatus for forming glass plate appling the flat fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for forming a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp, the apparatus comprising: a vertical heating unit for heating to a first temperature while lifting a glass substrate and a glass substrate disposed adjacent to the vertical heating unit and heated from the vertical heating unit; It is provided with a molded part for molding at a second temperature. And a slow cooling unit disposed adjacent to the molding unit and slowly cooling the molded glass substrate at a third temperature. The molding apparatus having the above-described configuration can mold a molded glass substrate having a uniform quality in a short time by two times or more than a conventional method using little energy.

Description

Apparatus for forming glass plate appling the flat fluorescent lamp

1 is a process sectional view showing a conventional method for manufacturing a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a forming apparatus of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a forming apparatus of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating multiple molds applied to the molding apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

5 to 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of forming a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp using the molding apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

-Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing-

120: vertical heating section 125: transfer unit

128: first heater 130: molding part

134: multiple mold 140: slow cooling unit

210: loading unit 250: unloading unit

S: support member G: flat glass substrate

G ": molded glass substrate

The present invention relates to a molding apparatus for a glass substrate and a method for forming a glass substrate for a flat lamp using the same, and more particularly, to a backlight or other surface light source of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The present invention relates to a molding apparatus of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp suitable for use as a molding method and a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp using the same.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a light-receiving (non-emitting) type, unlike the light-emitting display cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma display panel (PDP), field emission display (FED) or light emitting diode (LED) It is not available anywhere. In order to overcome this problem, the screen can be displayed in a dark place by illuminating the light by installing a backlight to generate light on the back of the LCD. Conventional backlights for LCDs have used cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) in the form of capillaries to emit light. In applying CCFL as an LCD surface light source, a liquid crystal panel is installed by using a direct light method in which a plurality of CCFLs are mounted under the liquid crystal panel and a diffuser plate is installed between the CCFL and the liquid crystal panel, and a transparent light guide panel. The edge light type that distributes the light emitted from the CCFL installed on the side of the LCD screen is mainly used.

However, the conventional backlight has high light loss, low light utilization efficiency, complex overall structure, high production cost, and requires the use of various optical sheets to ensure uniformity of brightness. It becomes a big obstacle to phosphorus light weight, thinning.

In the recently developed method, a molded glass substrate is formed to secure a discharge space of a conventional cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and then a phosphor is coated on the discharge space formed inside the front or rear glass plate, and a discharge gas and a small amount of mercury (Hg Research into a surface light source that emits light by applying a voltage between both electrodes by installing a discharge electrode on the outside or inside of the discharge space after the injection.

In this case, the most important molded glass substrate in the production of surface light source is generally manufactured by heating, forming, and cooling a flat glass substrate.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a molding apparatus for molding a glass substrate for a conventional flat fluorescent lamp.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp includes a horizontal heating unit 20 for heating the flat glass substrate supported by the support member S to have a glass softening point. It includes a molding unit 30 provided on one side of the horizontal heating unit 20 to receive the support member for supporting the plate glass substrate heated in the horizontal heating unit 20. A mold 34 is provided in the molding part 30, and the mold forms a molded glass substrate by vacuum-suctioning the heated glass substrate. Then, the slow cooling unit 40 is provided on one side of the molding unit 30 to receive the molded glass substrate separated from the mold, and gradually cools the molded glass substrate separated from the mold to form a complete molded glass substrate. Include. The mold used here also has a single mold structure that produces one product from one glass.

However, the apparatus for forming a glass substrate having the above-described configuration not only has a large horizontal length of a horizontal heating portion, but also heats the glass substrate while being located on the support member, so that the thermal efficiency is low and the production speed of the molded glass substrate is reduced. There is a problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a molding apparatus of a flat plate fluorescent lamp glass substrate that can form a molded glass substrate more than twice as fast as conventional by using less energy to solve such problems. .

In the apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the apparatus is to vertically lift the incoming glass substrate, and to heat the elevated glass substrate to have a first temperature. It includes a heating unit. A molding part that receives the glass substrate heated from the vertical heating part and molds at the second temperature is disposed adjacent to the vertical heating part. A slow cooling unit for slowly cooling the molded glass substrate from the third temperature is disposed adjacent to the molding unit.

 Here, the vertical heating unit further includes a substrate transfer unit for elevating the glass substrate from the support member and a heater for heating the elevated glass substrate. In addition, the transfer unit further includes a transfer arm for holding the edge of the glass substrate. The support member is formed of a ceramic material, the upper surface is coated with a release agent.

In the shaping apparatus for a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the molding apparatus is a loading portion for loading a glass substrate on a support member, and the glass is supported and introduced into the support member And a vertical heating unit including a vertical transfer unit for elevating the substrate from the support member and a heater for heating the elevated glass substrate to have a first temperature. A molding part including multiple molds for forming a heated glass substrate having one or more sizes descending from the vertical heating part at a second temperature is disposed under the vertical heating part to provide a heated glass substrate. The slow cooling unit for slowly cooling the molded glass substrate supported by the support member from a third temperature is disposed on one side of the molding unit. An unloading part for unloading the cooled molded glass substrate located on the support member is disposed adjacent to the slow cooling part.

The apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp of the present invention having the above-described configuration not only has a characteristic that the horizontal length of the heating portion is reduced, but also a molded glass substrate having a uniform quality can be more than twice as fast as before. It can be molded. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the molded glass substrate can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail.

Example 1

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a forming apparatus of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, the glass substrate molding apparatus of the present invention is a vertical heating unit 120 for heating the glass substrate, a molding unit 130 for forming the heated glass substrate to have a predetermined shape, deformed molded glass substrate It includes a slow cooling unit 140 to cool without.

The vertical heating unit 120 includes a transfer unit 125 for vertically moving (lifting) the flat glass substrate G, which is supported by a roller and introduced into the inside, and a glass substrate G that is vertically moved by the transfer unit. At least one first heater 128 for heating to have a temperature.

More specifically, the vertical heating unit 120 is a vertical furnace (120) in which a heating method is applied while raising (rising / lowering) the flat glass substrate introduced thereinto a conventional horizontal furnace. It is small in size. In addition, since the vertical heating unit 120 can be heated while lifting only the flat glass substrate (G), unlike the conventional method of heating the support member (not shown) and the flat glass substrate (S) at the same time, the flat glass It is possible to shorten the heating time of the substrate and reduce the energy consumption.

In addition, the transfer unit 125 includes a driving unit (not shown) and a transfer arm (not shown) provided in the vertical heating unit 120. The transfer arm moves vertically in the vertical heating unit 120 due to the driving of the driving unit. Here, the vertical / falling speed of the transfer unit 125 may be set differently depending on the length of the vertical heating unit.

The first heater 128 is provided with at least two or more on the inner wall of the vertical heating unit 120 to heat the elevated flat glass substrate to have a first temperature.

Here, when the first temperature, which is the heating temperature of the flat glass substrate, is less than 600 ° C., it is difficult to form a molded glass substrate having a uniform discharge space due to a poor molding of the glass substrate during the molding process of the flat glass substrate using a subsequent mold. When the temperature exceeds 800 ° C, the glass substrate sticks to the mold during shrinkage and molding of the glass, making it difficult to form a molded glass substrate having uniform characteristics. Therefore, the first temperature is 600 to 800 ° C, preferably 740 to 800 ° C.

The molding part 130 is disposed adjacent to the heating part 120 for heating the flat glass substrate, and is preferably provided below the vertical heating part. The molding unit may include a second heater (not shown) for maintaining only the flat glass substrate heated from the vertical heating unit 120 at a second temperature, and a mold 134 for molding the heated flat glass substrate into a molding glass substrate. Include.

The mold 134 is a mold for forming a molded glass substrate capable of forming a discharge space of a flat plate fluorescent lamp, and vacuum suction of the heated flat glass substrate or air suction to separate the molded glass substrate into a mold. Balls and air injection holes are formed. The mold 134 is a multi-die 134 having an area capable of vacuum-adsorbing at least one sheet glass substrate, preferably at least twice the size of the plate glass substrate. In addition, the center of the multiple mold may have a space to cut in advance into two flat glass substrate to be seated.

The multi-die has a tungsten nickel or chromium film formed on its surface in contact with the heated flat glass substrate to prevent oxidation at high temperature and maintain moldability with the heated flat glass substrate. The mold is formed by taking out the molded substrate onto the support member S introduced into the molding part after molding the heated glass substrate. At this time, the substrate is placed after the mold is rotated to face the upper surface of the support member.

The support member S is a substrate having a flatness and a release material is coated on a surface thereof to maintain the molded glass substrate and mold release property. Examples of the release material include, for example, BN, MoS ₂ , graphite, WS ₂ , and the like. These can be used individually or in mixture. The support member S is formed of a ceramic material.

Here, when the second temperature, which is the forming temperature of the glass substrate, is less than 550 ° C., when the glass substrate heated in the vertical heating unit 120 is formed, the glass substrate is rapidly cooled to have a uniform discharged space. It is difficult to form, and when the temperature exceeds 650 ° C., the heated flat glass substrate is stuck to the mold, making it difficult to form a molded glass substrate. Therefore, the second temperature is 550 to 650 ° C, preferably 600 to 640 ° C.

In addition, the molding unit 130 is preferably sealed after receiving a heated flat glass substrate to have a temperature deviation of ± 10 ℃ or less. This is because, when forming the molded glass substrate of 20 inches or more, a deviation occurs in the discharge space height of the molded glass substrate when a temperature deviation of ± 10 ° C. or more occurs in the mold.

The slow cooling part 140 is provided adjacent to the molding part to receive the molded substrate seated on the support member S, and the molded glass substrate seated on the support member S is heated from the third temperature to room temperature. Slowly cooling unit. At this time, the temperature corresponding to the introduction region in the slow cooling unit 130 is maintained by the heat of a heater (not shown) provided therein.

If the third temperature, which is the temperature of the introduction region of the slow cooling unit 140, is less than 550 ° C, since the molded glass substrate is rapidly cooled, it is difficult to control the flatness of the molded glass substrate. Since the time becomes longer, the manufacturing time of the molded glass substrate becomes longer. Therefore, the third temperature is 550 to 650 ° C, preferably 600 to 640 ° C.

The apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp having the above-described configuration can not only shorten the length of the heating unit significantly but also reduce the consumption of energy for heating the glass substrate and shorten the heating time. In addition, the formation time of the molded glass substrate can be shortened.

Example 2

3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a molding apparatus of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a multiple mold applied to the molding apparatus shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the glass substrate forming apparatus of the present invention includes a loading unit 210 for loading a glass substrate on a support member, a vertical heating unit 220 for heating while lifting the glass substrate, and a heated glass substrate at least. One or more molded parts 230 for molding, slow cooling unit 240 for cooling the molded substrate without deformation, and an unloading unit 250 for unloading the completed molded substrate from the support member.

The loading unit 210 is provided at one side of the heating unit 220 and loads a flat glass substrate (not shown) used to manufacture a molded glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp onto a support member Setter S. Unit. Here, the loading unit 210 is provided with a substrate transfer arm (not shown), and the substrate transfer arm supports the flat glass substrate to support the flat glass substrate on the support member S provided to the loading unit 210. Seat. The flat glass substrate has a size more than twice that of the existing organic substrate.

The support member S is formed of a ceramic material and has a flatness, and has a density of 0.7 to 3.0 g / cm ³ based on a size of 1100 * 700 * 5mm and a specific heat of 600 to 900j / kg. It is characterized by the above-mentioned. In addition, the support member (S) is a release material is coated on the surface to maintain the release property and the glass substrate. The release material is described in Example 1, and is omitted to avoid duplication.

The support member formed of the ceramic material has a characteristic of reducing the slow cooling time since the cooling rate difference with the glass substrate does not occur during the slow cooling process of the molded glass substrate.

The vertical heating unit 220 includes a transfer unit 225 for supporting the support member on the support member and raising / lowering the plate glass substrate flowing into the support member and the plate glass substrate for raising / lowering by the transfer unit. At least one first heater 228 for heating to have a first temperature.

More specifically, the vertical heating unit 220 is provided on one side of the loading unit 210 is provided with a flat glass substrate supported and introduced by the support member (S). The vertical heating unit 220 is a vertical furnace (Vertical furnace) is applied to heat the glass substrate flowing into the inside while lifting (up / down) from the support member (Vertical furnace) of its size compared to the conventional heating furnace of the horizontal structure Is very small.

In addition, since the vertical heating unit 220 can heat the flat glass substrate while holding the edge and vertically raising the edge, unlike the conventional method of simultaneously heating the supporting member S and the substrate, the heating time of the flat glass substrate is shortened. And a characteristic capable of reducing energy consumption. The transfer unit and the first heater are described in Example 1 and are omitted to avoid duplication.

The glass substrate heated by the vertical heating unit 220 is seated on the support member introduced into the vertical heating unit and then transferred to the molding unit where a subsequent process is performed. Here, the first temperature is 600 to 800 ℃, preferably 740 to 800 ℃.

The molding unit 230 is provided at one side of the vertical heating unit, and the glass molds adsorbed on the multiple molds 234 and the multiple molds 234 are vacuum-adsorbed the heated glass substrates provided from the vertical heating units at a second temperature. And a second heater 236 to maintain. Here, the molding 230 is a space for molding the heated substrate seated on the support member by applying multiple molds.

The multiple mold 234 shown in FIG. 4 is a suction mold for vacuum-adsoring a heated flat glass substrate as a forming mold in which a groove R is formed to form a molded glass substrate capable of forming a discharge space of the flat fluorescent lamp. Balls (not shown) are formed. The multi-die 234 has a size that allows the area of the flat glass substrates A and B to have a size that allows the area of the flat glass substrate to be vacuum-adsorbed to at least one sheet, and preferably two sheets. Have In the center of the multiple mold may have a groove that can be cut in advance into two flat glass substrate to be seated.

In this case, the multiple mold 234 is coated with a tungsten nickel or chromium film on the surface of the multiple mold 234 in contact with the heated glass substrate in order to prevent oxidation at high temperature and to maintain releasability of the heated flat glass substrate. The second temperature is 550 to 650 ° C, preferably 600 to 640 ° C.

The slow cooling part 240 is a unit which is disposed adjacent to the molding part 230 and gradually cools the formed glass substrate supported and supported by the support member S from a third temperature to a room temperature. At this time, the temperature corresponding to the introduction region in the slow cooling unit 230 is a third temperature, the third temperature is maintained by the heat provided by the heater. Here, 3rd temperature is 550-650 degreeC, Preferably it is 600-640 degreeC.

The unloading part 250 is disposed adjacent to the slow cooling part 240, and has a second substrate transfer arm for unloading the cooled molded glass substrate located on the support member S from the support member S. Not included). The second substrate transfer arm grips the cooled molded glass substrate and then transfers the molded glass substrate out of the molding apparatus.

The apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp having the above-described configuration can not only shorten the length of the heating unit significantly but also reduce the consumption of energy for heating the glass substrate and shorten the heating time. In addition, since multiple molds are used, the formation time of the molded glass substrate can be shortened.

Example 3

5 to 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of forming a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp using the molding apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the plate glass substrate G is heated while raising and lowering the plate glass substrate G introduced into the vertical heating unit 120 to form a heated plate glass substrate.

In detail, first, the flat glass substrate is mounted on the rotating roller and introduced into the vertical heating unit 120. Then, the plate glass substrate G introduced into the vertical heating unit 120 is heated to a first temperature which can be molded using the heater 128 provided in the heating unit while raising / lowering the flat glass substrate G. Here, when the first temperature, which is the temperature of the heated glass substrate G, is less than 600 ° C., a molded glass substrate having a uniform discharge space is formed due to poor molding during the molding process of the flat glass substrate using the multiple molds 134. If it is difficult to do it, and it exceeds 800 degreeC, it will stick to a metal mold | die at the time of shrinkage and shaping | molding of glass, and it will be difficult to form a molded glass substrate. Therefore, the first temperature is 600 to 800 ° C, preferably 740 to 800 ° C.

6 and 7, the at least one heated glass substrate G is seated on the multiple mold 134, and then the heated glass substrate is vacuum-adsorbed from the bottom to form a molded glass substrate G ′. do.

In detail, the heated glass substrate G is first lowered and the heated glass substrate G is seated on the multiple molds 134 positioned below the vertical heating unit 120. At this time, the heated glass substrate (G) of the two pieces of size is seated on the multiple mold (G). Subsequently, the glass substrate seated on the multiple mold 134 is vacuum-adsorbed from the bottom to form a molded glass substrate G ′ capable of forming a discharge space of the flat fluorescent lamp.

In addition, although not shown, the molded glass substrate may be separated into two in a mold divided into a space capable of pre-cutting the glass substrate into two in the center.

8 and 9, by injecting hot air into the multiple mold 134 that adsorbs the molded glass substrate G ′, the two pieces of molded glass substrate G ′ may be removed from the multiple mold 134. It is separated (taken out) and seated on the support member (S). Thereafter, the molded glass substrate G 'supported by the support member in the slow cooling unit 140 is slowly cooled from the third temperature to room temperature, and then the cooled molded glass substrate G' is unloaded from the support member S. In this case, the glass substrate G ′ may be separated and formed as two molded glass substrates G ″.

In detail, first, the supporting member S on which the molded glass substrate is seated is introduced into the introduction region of the slow cooling unit disposed adjacent to the forming unit 130 using the rotation of the roller at a speed of 70 to 100 cm / S. do. Subsequently, the molded glass substrate G ′ introduced into the introduction region of the slow cooling unit is gradually cooled to room temperature while maintaining flatness at a third temperature.

Here, when the third temperature, which is the temperature of the introduction region, is less than 550 ° C., the flatness of the molded glass substrate is difficult to adjust because the molded glass substrate is rapidly cooled, and when it exceeds 650 ° C., the cooling time becomes long. The manufacturing time of the molded glass substrate becomes long. Therefore, the third temperature is 550 to 650 ° C, preferably 600 to 640 ° C.

Then, it is unloaded from the support member to form a molded glass substrate having a uniform discharge space.

The molding apparatus of the present invention employs a vertical heating unit for heating while lifting (rising / lowering) a glass substrate and multiple molds for simultaneously molding a plurality of molding substrates on one glass substrate. Therefore, the molding apparatus described above can not only significantly reduce the horizontal length of the heating unit, but also maximize the efficiency of energy for heating the glass substrate and shorten the heating time of the glass substrate. In addition, since the multiple molds are used, the productivity of the molded glass substrate may be increased by about two times or more than before, thereby increasing the price competitiveness of the surface light source device.

Although described above with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art various modifications and variations of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below I can understand that you can.

Claims (8)

Vertical heating unit for heating to the first temperature while lifting the glass substrate; A molding part disposed adjacent to the vertical heating part and receiving a glass substrate heated from the vertical heating part and molding at a second temperature; And And a slow cooling unit arranged to be adjacent to the molding unit and slowly cooling the molded glass substrate from a third temperature. The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical heating unit A substrate transfer unit for elevating the glass substrate; And Forming apparatus for a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp comprising a heater for heating the elevated glass substrate. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transfer unit comprises a transfer arm supporting an edge of the glass substrate. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molding part comprises a plurality of molds formed by vacuum-absorbing two or more shapes from one or more heated glass substrates at the top or the bottom thereof. The method of claim 1, wherein the molded glass substrate has a density of 0.7 to 3.0g / cm ³ , the specific heat is supported on a support member made of a ceramic material, characterized in that 600 to 900j / kg ℃. Apparatus for forming a glass substrate for a flat plate fluorescent lamp. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the support member that is in contact with the molded glass substrate is coated with a release agent. The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is 700 to 800 ℃, the second temperature is 550 to 650 ℃, the third temperature is formed of a glass substrate for a flat fluorescent lamp, characterized in that the 550 to 700 ℃ Device. A loading unit loading the glass substrate on the support member; A vertical heating unit including a vertical transfer unit for elevating the organic substrate from the support member on which the glass substrate is placed, and a heater for heating the elevated glass substrate to a first temperature; A molding part disposed below the vertical heating part so as to receive the heated glass substrate, and including a plurality of molds formed on the support member by molding a heated glass substrate descending from the vertical heating part at a second temperature; A slow cooling unit disposed on one side of the forming unit to slowly cool the formed glass substrate placed in the support member from a third temperature; And And an unloading part disposed adjacent to the slow cooling part and unloading the cooled molded glass substrate located on the support member.

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