Thermoforming method and thermoforming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906230-B2
Application number	US-201916560744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2019
Priority date	Oct 8, 2015
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a method of thermoforming a molding material to have a bent portion and a flat portion extending from the bent portion. The method includes: placing the molding material on a bending mold, the bending mold having a curved surface; and forming the bent portion of the molding material by heating a portion of the molding material at least to a fluidization temperature such that the portion of the molding material bends due to the weight of the flat portion of the molding material to form the bent portion according to a shape of the bending mold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for thermoforming a molding material to have a bent portion and a flat portion extending from bent portion, the apparatus comprising:
a base stage comprising a sliding surface;
a bending mold on the base stage, and having a curved upper surface;
a temperature controller configured to heat the molding material such that the bent portion is fluidized;
a weight coupled to the flat portion; and
a magnet beneath the sliding surface and arranged along a rotation path of the flat portion,
wherein the fluidized bent portion is configured to be bent due to the weight,
wherein when the bent portion bends, the weight slides along the sliding surface, and
wherein the weight comprises a magnetic material, and the magnet is configured to apply a force to the weight in a direction away from a center of the bent portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flat portion has a first end extending from the bent portion and a second end opposite to the first end, and
wherein when the bent portion bends, the second end rotates about the bending mold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a support member,
wherein, in a first state, the support member is under the flat portion in a vertical direction such that the flat portion is supported, and
wherein, in a second state, the support member does not overlap the second end in the vertical direction such that the flat portion rotates.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controller is configured to cool the bent portion to a fluidization temperature of the bent portion or lower.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bending mold is non-overlapping with the flat portion when viewed in a plane.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Eo Sungwoo
• Kim Hunkyo
• Shim Byoungyul
• Oh Jusuk

Classifications

• B29C53/04 Primary

  of plates or sheets {(B29C63/04 takes precedence; bending or folding paper B31F1/0003; folding films B65H45/00)} · CPC title

• B29C51/46

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title

• C03B23/0252

  by gravity only, e.g. sagging (C03B23/035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C51/20

  having movable moulds or mould parts · CPC title

• B29C51/08 Primary

  Deep drawing or matched-mould forming, i.e. using mechanical means only · CPC title