KR20170000445A - A transparent material forming equipment and method - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a transparent member forming device includes: a stage on which a transparent member is placed; a first mold which is faced with the stage; and a second mold which is arranged on one side of the stage and has a protrusion. A bending guide is arranged at the end of the protrusion.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a transparent member forming apparatus and a molding method,

The present invention relates to a transparent member molding apparatus and a molding method, and more particularly to a transparent member molding apparatus and a molding method for a display apparatus.

The display device may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display panel (PDP), and an electrophoretic display ).

The organic light emitting display includes a display panel having a transistor disposed on a substrate and an organic layer formed on the transistor.

On the other hand, in order to protect the display panel, a transparent member is attached to the display panel. At this time, the shape of the transparent member corresponds to the shape of the display panel.

In recent years, a curved display device has been rapidly emerging as a next-generation display device, which allows the user to further improve the degree of immersion and make the images more realistic. In the curved display device, An edge curved display device capable of realizing an image becomes a buzzword.

Therefore, the transparent member also has to be formed into a curved transparent member including both the flat surface portion and the curved surface portion.

The present invention is intended to provide a molding apparatus for a transparent member having curved surfaces at both ends.

A transparent member forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stage on which a transparent member is placed, a first mold disposed opposite to the stage, and a second mold disposed on a side surface of the stage and having a projection, A flexure guide is disposed at an end of the projection.

The flexure guide has a curved surface.

And a third mold disposed below the first mold.

The third mold has a deflection guide.

The first mold has a plane and a curved surface on a surface facing the stage.

The stage includes a suction unit for sucking the transparent member.

And a transfer unit for placing the transparent member on the stage.

The first mold further includes a heating unit for heating the transparent member and a cooling unit for cooling the heated transparent member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a transparent member, comprising: placing a transparent member on a stage; heating the transparent member; lowering the first mold to primarily mold the side surface of the transparent member into a curved surface And secondary molding the second mold so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the transparent member becomes smaller.

And cooling the heated transparent member.

Further comprising the step of raising the third mold to perform tertiary molding so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the transparent member becomes smaller.

The primary molding step and the secondary molding step proceed simultaneously.

The primary molding step and the secondary molding step proceed simultaneously and then the third molding step proceeds.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a transparent member having a small radius of curvature

1 is a side view of a transparent member molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a side view of a transparent member molding apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic views illustrating a process of forming a transparent member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention, and the manner of achieving them, will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Thus, in some embodiments, well known process steps, well known device structures, and well-known techniques are not specifically described to avoid an undesirable interpretation of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

The terms spatially relative, "below", "beneath", "lower", "above", "upper" May be used to readily describe a device or a relationship of components to other devices or components. Spatially relative terms should be understood to include, in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings, terms that include different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, when inverting an element shown in the figures, an element described as "below" or "beneath" of another element may be placed "above" another element. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both downward and upward directions. The elements can also be oriented in different directions, so that spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to orientation.

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

Unless defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in a sense commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Also, commonly used predefined terms are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless explicitly defined otherwise.

Hereinafter, a transparent member forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a side view of a molding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a transparent member molding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stage 100, a transfer unit 110, a heating unit 120, a first mold 130, a second mold 130, 140, and a cooling unit 150.

First, the transparent member forming apparatus 10 is a device for forming a curved surface of the transparent member 1, and the transparent member 1 includes all transparent materials such as glass and plastic.

First, the stage 100 includes a moving unit 101 and a suction hole 102.

The stage 100 includes a graphite material and a stainless steel material, but is not limited thereto.

The stage 100 has a suction hole 102 in a space in which the transparent member 1 is seated.

A plurality of suction holes 102 are formed in the stage 100 and are connected to the pipe of the suction unit 103 so that the transparent member 1 can be seated on the stage 100.

The moving unit 101 (Moving Unit) is a unit that can move the stage 100 up or down or right and left, and includes an LM guide (Linear Motion Guide) and a motor.

The mobile unit 101 can be moved along the LM guide.

The suction unit 103 can suck the transparent member 1 using a vacuum. For example, a vacuum pump, a vacuum ejector, or the like can be used.

The transfer unit 110 (Feeding Unit) loads the transparent member 1 onto the stage 100 and seats the transparent member 1 on the stage 100. The transfer unit 110 includes a pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112, a mobile robot 113, and control means (not shown).

The vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 picks up the transparent member 1 in vacuum.

The mobile robot 113 can move up and down the vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 so as to pick up the transparent member 1 and move the transparent member 1 onto the stage 10.

The control means (not shown) controls the pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 and the mobile robot 113.

The vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 includes a plurality of air circulation passages (not shown) capable of sucking air into the vacuum pickup means, an air header for collecting the air sucked through the air circulation path, And may include a suction header having a plurality of suction inlets for uniformly sucking air in the air header. The suction header is connected to the air discharge port to discharge the sucked air to the vacuum pump through the discharge line.

It is preferable that the pressure in the vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 and the air header is aspirated through a vacuum pump so as to be 50 to 750 Torr.

The heating unit 120 is located inside the first metal mold 130 described below.

The heating unit 120 may apply heat at a high temperature by a separate heat source capable of heating the transparent member 1. The heating temperature of the transparent member 1 is preferably about 500 to 700 ° C

The heating unit 120 is a non-metallic heating element made of silicon carbide (SiC) or molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) as a main material. The heating unit is a plate type, plate assembly, far infrared ray ceramic heating unit 120, The selected one can be used.

However, the heating unit 120 includes all means capable of heating, but is not limited thereto.

The first mold 130 is disposed opposite to the stage 100 and includes a press unit 133.

The first metal mold 130 may be made of a graphite material or a stainless metal material, but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first metal mold 130 includes a flat surface portion 131 opposed to the transparent member 1 on the bottom surface and a concave portion 132 extending from the left and right sides of the plane surface

The plane portion 131 and the concave portion 132 are configured to be detachable from the first mold 130 so that the plane portion 131 or the concave portion 132 can be deformed if necessary. That is, the recess 132 of the first mold 130 can be replaced according to the shape of the transparent member 1 required.

The press unit 133 includes an elevating cylinder (not shown) capable of moving the first mold 130 in the vertical direction, and controls the moving speed, pressure, etc. of the first mold 130 by the sub motor have.

The second mold 140 is disposed on the side surface of the stage 100 and includes a pillar 141 and a protrusion 142.

The second metal mold 140 includes one selected from the group consisting of a graphite material and a stainless metal material, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second mold 140 is shown as being disposed on the right and left sides of the stage 100, but is not limited thereto.

The post 141 is disposed on the mobile unit 101.

The projecting portion 142 is a protruding portion directed toward the stage 100. A bending guide 143 is formed at an end of the protrusion 142.

The bending guide 143 presses the curved surface of the transparent member 1 curved by the first mold 130 by a second order so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the transparent member 1 becomes smaller.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bending guide 143 is formed as a curved surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The bending guide 143 may be variously formed according to the shape of the transparent member 1 to be manufactured.

The cooling unit 150 is disposed inside the first mold 130 to cool the transparent member 1 that has been formed. The cooling unit 150 may gradually cool or quench the heated transparent member 1 by passing cooling water or cooling air.

2 is a side view of a transparent member molding apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

2, a molding apparatus 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a stage 200, a transfer unit 210, a heating unit 220, a first mold 230, a second mold 240, A cooling section 250, and a third mold 260. [

The description of the molding apparatus 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be omitted from the description related to the molding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The third mold 260 is disposed under the first mold 230.

Referring to FIG. 2, the third mold 260 includes a flexure guide 261 at its end.

The flexure guide 261 presses the curved surface of the transparent member 1 curved by the first mold 230 and the second mold 240 three times.

The radius of curvature of the transparent member 1 becomes smaller.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the curved guide 261 is formed as a curved surface. However, the curved guide 261 may be formed variously according to the shape of the transparent member 1 to be manufactured.

The third mold 260 includes one selected from the group consisting of a graphite material and a stainless steel metal material, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the third mold 260 is disposed on the right and left sides of the stage 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The configuration of the molding apparatuses 10 and 20 so far has been described, and one embodiment of the transparent member forming method according to the present invention will be described below.

3A to 3E illustrate a transparent member forming process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in Fig. 3A, the transparent member 1 is placed on the stage 100 by using the transfer unit 110. Fig.

The transfer unit 110 is provided with a vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 for sucking the transparent member 1 by vacuum, ).

Next, the vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 releases the vacuum to the transparent member 1 vacuum-adhered to the stage 100. Then, the vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 is moved to the initial position by moving the vacuum pick-up / pick-up releasing means 112 in the direction opposite to the loading of the transparent member 1 using the linear moving robot 113.

At this time, the suction unit 103 of the stage 100 fixes the transparent member 1 temporarily to the stage 100 by attaching the transparent member 1 to the vacuum.

Next, referring to FIG. 3B, the heating unit 120 heats the transparent member 1 to a molding temperature of about 600 to 800.degree.

Next, the first mold 130 is lowered by using the press unit 133 and pressed so as to come into close contact with the transparent member 1 which is seated on the stage 100. The transparent member 1 is pressed between the first mold 130 and the stage 100 so that the left and right outer portions of the transparent member 1 are primarily molded in a curved shape. The first mold 130 is temporarily stopped.

3C, the curved portion of the transparent member 1 is horizontally moved in the direction of the transparent member 1 to closely contact the curved guide 142 of the second mold 140, Thereby pressing the curved surface portion of the transparent member 1. [ The transparent member 1 is secondary-molded so that the curved surface portion is repressed, so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface portion becomes smaller.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the second mold 140 is operated after the step of descending the first mold 130. However, when the first mold 130 descends and the second mold 140 ) May be carried out simultaneously.

When the outer shape of the transparent member 1 having a curved surface is completed by the heating process, the cooling portion 150 undergoes a gradual cooling process. The cooling process may be performed in such a manner that cooling water or cooling air passes through the cooling unit 150.

Meanwhile, the seating, heating and cooling steps as described above can be performed by a conveyor belt method or a rotary method.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the secondary molding of the present invention followed by the tertiary molding may proceed.

3D, after the second molding, the third mold 260 is raised in the direction of the transparent member 1 to bring the transparent member 1 and the bending guide 261 of the third mold into close contact with each other, 1 can be pressed. The transparent member 1 is tertiary-shaped so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface portion becomes smaller by repressurizing the curved surface portion.

Next, when the outer shape of the transparent member 1 is completed, the cooling part 150 is gradually cooled.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings and examples. The drawings and the embodiments described above are merely illustrative, and various modifications and equivalent other embodiments will be possible to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

100: stage part, 130: first mold
140: second mold

Claims (13)

A stage on which the transparent member is seated;
A first mold disposed opposite to the stage; And
And a second mold disposed on a side surface of the stage and having a protrusion
And a deflection guide at an end of the protrusion.
The method according to claim 1,
The deflection guide includes a transparent member forming device
3. The method of claim 2,
And a third mold disposed below the first mold.
The method of claim 3,
The third mold is a transparent member forming apparatus having a deflection guide
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first mold has a flat portion on a surface facing the stage and a curved surface portion extending from the flat portion,
6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the stage includes a suction unit for sucking the transparent member,
The method according to claim 6,
And a transfer unit for placing the transparent member on the stage
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the first mold includes a heating unit for heating the transparent member,
And a cooling section for cooling the heated transparent member
Placing the transparent member on a stage;
Heating the transparent member;
Lowering the first mold to form the side surface of the transparent member into a curved surface; And
And performing a secondary molding so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the transparent member becomes smaller by horizontally moving the second mold
10. The method of claim 9,
And a step of cooling the heated transparent member
11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of raising the third mold and further performing a tertiary molding so that the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the transparent member becomes smaller
11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the primary molding step and the secondary molding step are performed simultaneously with the transparent member molding method
12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the step of performing the primary molding after the step of primary molding and the step of secondary molding proceed simultaneously

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