Apparatus for forming a window of a display panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207818-A1
Application number	US-201514884654-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a window of a display panel includes a mold configured to hold a plate in a concave portion, wherein the concave portion has a predetermined shape, and a transfer part configured to sequentially transfer the mold to a heating part, a forming part, and a cooling part. The heating part includes first and second heating modules respectively positioned on top and bottom portions of the mold and configured to apply heat to the top and bottom portions of the mold. The forming part is positioned above the mold and configured to jet a high-temperature gas onto the heated plate. The cooling part includes first and second cooling modules respectively positioned on the top and bottom portions of the mold and configured to cool the top and bottom portions of the heated plate. The mold is tilted at a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for forming a window of a display panel, comprising:
a mold having a concave portion formed therein and configured to hold a plate in the concave portion, wherein the concave portion has a predetermined shape; and a transfer part configured to sequentially transfer the mold to a heating part, a forming part, and a cooling part; wherein the heating part includes a first heating module and a second heating module respectively positioned on a top portion and a bottom portion of the mold, and wherein the first and second heating modules are configured to apply heat to the top and bottom portions of the mold so as to heat the plate; wherein the forming part is configured to receive the mold transferred from the heating part to the forming part by the transfer part, and wherein the forming part is positioned above the mold and configured to jet a high-temperature gas onto the heated plate, so as to form the heated plate into the predetermined shape; wherein the cooling part is configured to receive the mold transferred from the forming part to the cooling part by the transfer part, wherein the cooling part includes a first cooling module and second cooling module respectively positioned on the top and bottom portions of the mold, and wherein the first and second cooling modules are configured to cool the top and bottom portions of the mold, so as to cool the heated plate and thereby form the window having the predetermined shape; and wherein the mold is tilted at a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal plane of the heating part, the forming part, and the cooling part.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mold includes a stopper for supporting an edge portion of the plate or window, so as to prevent the plate or window from moving downward.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle ranges from about 0° to about 30°.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mold includes a plurality of suction holes formed in the concave portion.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first heating module includes a first heater positioned above the mold for heating the mold, and
wherein the second heating module includes a second heating block positioned under the mold for transferring heat to the mold, and a second heater positioned under the second heating block for heating the second heating block.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first heating module further includes a first heating block positioned between the mold and the first heater for heating the mold using heat transferred from the first heater.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first and second heating blocks are formed of at least one of silicon carbide, stainless steel, graphite, and quartz.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first and second heaters are infrared heaters.

9 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first heat shield positioned on the first heater for preventing heat generated from the first heater from being discharged to the outside; and a second heat shield positioned under the second heater for preventing the heat generated from the second heater from being discharged to the outside.

10 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second heating block includes a plurality of connection holes connected with the suction holes of the mold.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forming part further comprises:
a forming block positioned above the mold and including a plurality of injection holes through which the high-temperature gas is jetted; a third heating block positioned on the forming block for transferring heat to the forming block; a third heater positioned on the third heating block for heating the third heating block; a high-temperature gas supply module connected to the forming block for supplying the high-temperature gas to the forming block; a fourth heating block positioned under the mold for transferring heat to the mold; and a fourth heater positioned under the mold for heating the fourth heating block.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the forming block has a convex portion corresponding to the predetermined shape.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating part includes a plurality of heating parts,
wherein the heating parts are disposed in parallel, and wherein heating temperatures of the heating parts increase in a direction in which the mold is transferred.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cooling part includes a plurality of cooling parts,
wherein the cooling parts are disposed in parallel, and wherein cooling temperatures of the heating parts decrease in a direction in which the mold is transferred.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transfer part includes a pair of rails, and
wherein the heating part, the forming part, and the cooling part are positioned along the pair of rails.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the pair of rails include fixing grooves for fixing the mold in place.

17 . An apparatus for forming a window of a display panel, comprising:
a mold having a concave portion formed therein and configured to hold a plate in the concave portion, wherein the concave portion has a predetermined shape; and a transfer part configured to transfer the mold between a temperature control part and a forming part; wherein the temperature control part includes a first temperature control module and a second temperature control module respectively positioned on a top portion and a bottom portion of the mold, and wherein the first and second temperature control modules are configured to heat the top and bottom portions of the mold so as to heat the plate; wherein the forming part is configured to receive the mold transferred from the temperature control part to the forming part by the transfer part, and wherein the forming part is positioned above the mold and configured to jet a high-temperature gas onto the heated plate, so as to form the heated plate into the predetermined shape; wherein the temperature control part is further configured to receive the mold transferred from the forming part to the temperature control part by the transfer part, and wherein the first and second temperature control modules are configured to cool the top and bottom portions of the mold, so as to cool the heated plate and thereby form the window having the predetermined shape, and wherein the mold is tilted at a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal plane of the heating part, the forming part, and the cooling part.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first temperature control module includes a first temperature controller positioned above the mold for heating or cooling the mold, and
wherein the second temperature control module includes a second temperature control block positioned under the mold for exchanging heat with the mold, and a second temperature controller positioned beneath the second temperature control block for heating or cooling the second temperature control block.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first temperature control module further includes a first temperature control block positioned between the mold and the first temperature controller for heating or cooling the mold using heat transferred from the first temperature controller.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
a third heat shield positioned on the first temperature controller for preventing heat generated from t

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Jung Min
• Park Young Chun
• Kim Jong Soo
• Park June Beom
• Kim Min Soo
• Hwang Chan Hae

Classifications

• B29C43/04 Primary

  using movable moulds · CPC title

• B29C51/46

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title

• B29K2105/256

  Sheets, plates, blanks or films · CPC title

• C03B23/0235 Primary

  involving applying local or additional heating, cooling or insulating means · CPC title

• B29C51/082 Primary

  by shaping between complementary mould parts · CPC title