Method of forming middle frame of display device, display device manufacturing method, and printing device

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically to a method for forming a mid-frame of a display device, a method for manufacturing a display device, and a printing apparatus. The method for forming the mid-frame of a display device includes: providing a printing substrate, comprising a curved or flat backplate, a display module layer, and a cover plate stacked together; the edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inwards relative to the edges of the backplate; the curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than the curvature in the non-edge region; printing mid-frame material in the edge region to form the mid-frame; wherein a five-axis linkage printing apparatus with adjustable print head position and orientation angle is used to successively form a first overflow wall and a second overflow wall at the edge of the edge region on the side away from the center of the printing substrate and at the edge of the edge region on the side closer to the center of the printing substrate. This invention can flexibly address the printing needs of mid-frames with different curved surfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more specifically to a method for forming the middle frame of a display device, a method for manufacturing a display device, and a printing apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of display technology, display screens are taking on increasingly more irregular shapes. For example, displays with curved sides require a corresponding curved-side frame. The mainstream manufacturing method for this type of frame is currently unibody injection molding. During this process, the display module is compressed to form a closed injection cavity, which can cause micro-deformation in the non-rigid areas of the display module, potentially negatively impacting the screen's display performance. Furthermore, the unibody injection molding solution requires a new mold for each product with different curved edges, resulting in high mold costs and significant mold waste.

[0003] Therefore, a solution is needed to address the issue that manufacturing the mid-frame of a display device with curved edges can cause deformation of the display module, affecting display quality and increasing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, in order to solve the problem that manufacturing the mid-frame of a display device with curved edges will cause deformation of the display module, affecting the display effect and increasing the cost, the present invention provides a method for forming the mid-frame of a display device, a method for manufacturing a display device, and a printing device.

[0005] This invention provides a method for forming a mid-frame of a display device, comprising: providing a printing substrate, the printing substrate including a back plate, a display module layer, and a cover plate, which are stacked and have the same curvature and are curved or planar; the edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate; the printing substrate includes an edge region, the edge region comprising the edge of the back plate, the edge of the display module layer, and the edge of the cover plate, and a region of a certain width from the edge of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate toward the center of the printing substrate; the curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than that of the back plate. The arc of the non-edge area; printing the middle frame, printing the middle frame material around the edge of the printing substrate in the edge area to form the middle frame; wherein, firstly, an overflow wall is formed in the edge area, and then printing fill is performed in the area of ​​the edge area within the overflow wall; including: using a five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable print head position and orientation angle, adjusting the orientation angle and position of the print head, forming a first overflow wall and a second overflow wall on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area close to the center position of the printing substrate.

[0006] Optionally, in the five-axis linkage printing device, the print head is adapted to move along mutually perpendicular X-axis and Y-axis in a horizontal plane, and is adapted to move along Z-axis in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis. It also has an A-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XY plane and a C-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XZ plane. In the step of printing the middle frame, the print head is moved by the cooperation of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and the orientation angle of the print head is adjusted by the cooperation of the A-axis and C-axis to print the first overflow wall and the second overflow wall.

[0007] Optionally, the five-axis linkage printing device has at least two print heads, and in the step of printing the middle frame, the two print heads are used to simultaneously print the first anti-overflow wall and the second anti-overflow wall.

[0008] Optionally, in the step of printing the middle frame, the overflow wall formed on the edge near the center of the printing substrate is the first overflow wall; the overflow wall formed on the edge away from the center of the printing substrate is the second overflow wall; the second overflow wall is located at least outside the edge of the display module layer; the space between the first overflow wall and the second overflow wall is filled by printing to form a first filling layer; the first filling layer covers the surface of the exposed display module layer and the surface of the cover plate in the edge area.

[0009] Optionally, the second overflow barrier is disposed at the edge of the display module layer; the step of printing the middle frame further includes: printing fill in the space between the second overflow barrier and the edge of the back panel to form a second fill layer.

[0010] Optionally, the display module layer comprises multiple layers, including at least a first display module layer near the back panel and a second display module layer away from the back panel; the distance between the edge of the first display module layer and the edge of the back panel is greater than the distance between the edge of the second display module layer and the edge of the back panel, and a gap is formed between the second display module layer and the back panel; the second overflow wall is disposed at the edge of the second display module layer; in the step of printing the middle frame, the second fill layer also fills the gap between the surface of the second display module layer and the back panel.

[0011] Optionally, the middle frame material includes a first adhesive for forming a spill-proof wall and a second adhesive for printing fill; the viscosity of the first adhesive is greater than that of the second adhesive; the first adhesive has shape retention properties, and the second adhesive has flowability.

[0012] Optionally, the printing method in the step of printing the middle frame includes direct writing printing, piezoelectric valve printing, pin valve printing, and inkjet printing.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a display device, wherein the middle frame of the display device is formed by the middle frame forming method of the display device provided by the present invention.

[0014] The present invention also provides a printing apparatus suitable for 3D printing a printing substrate to form a mid-frame; the printing substrate includes a back plate, a display module layer, and a cover plate, which are stacked and have the same curvature; the edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate; the printing substrate includes an edge region, which includes the edges of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate, and a region of a certain width from the edges of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate toward the center of the printing substrate; the curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than the curvature in the non-edge region; the printing apparatus includes: a stage suitable for supporting the printing substrate; and a printing unit suitable for printing the mid-frame material within the edge region. The printing process involves printing to form a mid-frame with an arc matching the edge area; the printing unit includes a print head; a support adapted to mount the printing unit; the support is further provided with a five-axis linkage assembly connected to the print head, the five-axis linkage assembly adjusting the orientation angle and position of the print head, forming a first overflow wall and a second overflow wall on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area close to the center position of the printing substrate; a drive unit adapted to drive the support to move, thereby moving the printing unit; the drive unit is a variable speed drive device; a CNC unit adapted to control the drive unit to drive the support to move the printing unit and to drive the five-axis linkage assembly to move and rotate the print head.

[0015] Optionally, the five-axis linkage assembly includes a planar movement assembly and a rotation assembly; the planar movement assembly is adapted to drive the print head to move in three orthogonal planes; the rotation assembly is adapted to drive the print head to rotate along a certain rotation axis in two of the three orthogonal planes.

[0016] Optionally, the five-axis linkage assembly includes: an X-axis movement assembly, a Y-axis movement assembly, a Z-axis movement assembly, an A-axis rotation assembly, and a C-axis rotation assembly; wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular to each other in the horizontal plane, the Z-axis is perpendicular to the XY plane, the A-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XY plane, and the C-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XZ plane; the CNC unit is adapted to drive the X-axis movement assembly, the Y-axis movement assembly, the Z-axis movement assembly, the A-axis rotation assembly, and the C-axis rotation assembly to move and rotate the print head.

[0017] Optionally, the printing unit includes an overflow wall printing unit and a filler glue printing unit; the overflow wall printing unit includes one or more overflow wall printheads; the overflow wall printheads are connected to the five-axis linkage assembly; the filler glue printing unit includes a filler glue printhead, which is separately connected to the five-axis linkage assembly.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the technical solution of this invention are as follows:

[0019] The present invention provides a method for forming the middle frame of a display device. Using 3D printing, an overflow barrier is first formed, followed by the printing of a filling layer within the overflow barrier to form the middle frame. A five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable printhead position and orientation angle is used to adjust the printhead's orientation angle and position, forming the overflow barrier in the edge area. Using 3D printing, rather than one-piece injection molding, avoids deformation damage to the display module caused by one-piece injection molding. Furthermore, the five-axis linkage printing device allows for free adjustment of the printhead's position and angle, facilitating the formation of the overflow barrier and filling layer. This allows for the convenient formation of a middle frame that matches the curvature of the edge area, adapting to the needs of curved edges of display devices with varying curvatures, thus broadening its applicability. Therefore, only one set of equipment is needed for products with different curvatures, eliminating the need for re-molding and avoiding problems such as low mold utilization and long-term wear. It also eliminates the problem of mismatched frame dimensions caused by tolerances during mold manufacturing. In addition, the curvature angle of the printed middle frame can be controlled by adjusting different tilt angles during the printing process. Meanwhile, by providing a manufacturing method for the corresponding display device and a printing device used in this forming method, corresponding beneficial effects can be achieved.

[0020] The method for forming the middle frame of a display device provided by this invention utilizes the aforementioned five-axis linkage printing device. The print head is adapted to move along mutually perpendicular X and Y axes in a horizontal plane, and is also adapted to move along a Z axis perpendicular to the plane containing the X and Y axes. It further includes an A-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XY plane and a C-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XZ plane. In the step of printing the middle frame, the print head is moved by coordinating the X, Y, and Z axes, and its orientation angle is adjusted by coordinating the A and C axes to print the first and second overflow walls. Thus, the print head can be moved in the XYZ axial directions, and simultaneously rotated in the A and C axes, allowing for free adjustment of the print head's position and orientation as needed.

[0021] The method for forming the middle frame of a display device provided by this invention, when the second overflow barrier is disposed at the edge of the display module layer, further includes the step of printing the middle frame by: printing filler in the space between the second overflow barrier and the edge of the back plate to form a second filler layer. This is achieved by controlling the dual print heads in a five-axis linkage manner to form an oblique overflow barrier (see reference). Figure 1 This process is relatively difficult. Furthermore, the required angle results in relatively low printing accuracy, necessitating a very small needle-to-needle distance (typically within 100μm). Because both the needle-to-needle distance and angle requirements are stringent, needle collisions are prone to occur. Therefore, by dividing the edge area into two regions through the edges of the overflow barrier and backplate, and then filling each region sequentially to form the middle frame (i.e., dividing the area to form the first and second fill layers, which are then filled separately), the edge area can be divided at a relatively flexible angle. This allows for more freedom in the angle of the overflow barrier, thus allowing for more flexible setting of the printhead's orientation, reducing printing difficulty. Furthermore, dividing the edge area into two regions allows for more flexible printhead orientation settings, enabling the needle-to-needle distance to be increased to over 500μm, further reducing the risk of needle collisions.

[0022] The method for forming a mid-frame of a display device provided by the present invention includes, in some embodiments, a display module layer comprising multiple layers, including at least a first display module layer near the back panel and a second display module layer away from the back panel; the distance between the edge of the first display module layer and the edge of the back panel is greater than the distance between the edge of the second display module layer and the edge of the back panel, forming a gap between the second display module layer and the back panel; a second overflow wall is disposed at the edge of the second display module layer; in the step of printing the mid-frame, the second filling layer also fills the gap between the surface of the second display module layer and the back panel. In some embodiments, due to the design of the display module layer, an uneven edge is formed, resulting in a structure where a gap is formed between part of the film layer and the back panel. The special position of the second overflow wall allows the second filling layer to more easily fill the gap between the second display module layer and the back panel from the outside, resulting in tighter filling protection and better protection. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a top view schematic diagram of a mid-frame formed by a mid-frame forming method of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the embodiment;

[0026] Figure 3 The method for forming the middle frame of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a 3D camera to scan the 3D height image of the side (long side) of the middle frame after printing.

[0027] Figure 4 In a method for forming the middle frame of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, after printing, a 3D camera is used to scan the 3D height image of the bottom edge (short side) of the middle frame.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the state when forming the first filling layer in a method for forming the middle frame of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the state during the formation of the second filling layer in the embodiment;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of a portion of the printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention during the printing process. Detailed Implementation

[0031] This invention provides a method for forming a mid-frame of a display device and a method for manufacturing a display device, in order to solve the problems in the prior art where the manufacturing of a mid-frame of a display device with curved edges causes deformation of the display module, affecting the display effect and resulting in high costs.

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides a method for forming the middle frame of a display device, including:

[0038] A printing substrate is provided, comprising a back plate 110, a display module layer 120, and a cover plate 130, which are stacked and have the same curvature and are curved or flat. The edges of the display module layer 120 and the cover plate 130 are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate 110. The printing substrate includes an edge region, which includes the edges of the back plate 110, the display module layer 120, and the cover plate 130, as well as a region of a certain width from the edges of the back plate 110, the display module layer 120, and the cover plate 130 toward the center of the printing substrate. The curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than the curvature in the non-edge region.

[0039] Print the middle frame by printing the middle frame material around the edge area of ​​the printing substrate to form the middle frame.

[0040] The process includes first forming an overflow prevention wall 210 in the edge area, and then printing and filling the area within the overflow prevention wall in the edge area to form a filling layer 220; including:

[0041] Using a five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable printhead position and orientation angle, the orientation angle and position of the printhead (not shown in the figure) are adjusted, and a first overflow wall and a second overflow wall are formed on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area close to the center position of the printing substrate; the overflow wall 210 includes the first overflow wall and the second overflow wall mentioned above.

[0042] The method for forming the middle frame of the display device provided in this embodiment uses 3D printing to first form an overflow barrier 210, and then print a filling layer 220 within the area formed by the overflow barrier 210, together forming the middle frame. A five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable print head position and orientation angle is used to adjust the orientation angle and position of the print head to form the overflow barrier 210 in the edge area. Using 3D printing instead of one-piece injection molding to form the barrier avoids deformation damage to the display module caused by one-piece injection molding. Furthermore, the five-axis linkage printing device allows for free adjustment of the print head position and angle, facilitating the formation of the overflow barrier 210 and the filling layer 220. This allows for the convenient formation of a middle frame that matches the curvature of the edge area, adapting to the needs of curved edges of display devices with different curvatures, thus having a wide range of applications. Therefore, only one set of equipment is needed for products with different curvatures, eliminating the need for re-molding and avoiding problems such as low mold utilization and long-term wear. It also eliminates the problem of mismatched frame dimensions in the final mold due to tolerances during mold manufacturing.

[0043] Furthermore, the tilt angle of the resulting curved surface can be controlled. See the reference image for the printed result. Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 To obtain a 3D height image of the side (long side) of the frame after printing, a 3D camera is used to scan the frame. Figure 4 After printing, a 3D camera is used to scan the 3D height image of the bottom edge (short side) of the frame. The curved surfaces in the image correspond to... Figure 5 , Figure 6 As you can see from the curved surface in the image, the curved surface on the side is different from the curved surface on the bottom. This is achieved by controlling different tilt angles during the printing process.

[0044] Furthermore, in the five-axis linkage printing device, the print head is adapted to move along mutually perpendicular X and Y axes in a horizontal plane, and is also adapted to move along a Z axis perpendicular to the plane containing the X and Y axes. It also has an A-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XY plane and a C-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XZ plane. In the step of printing the middle frame, the print head is moved by the cooperation of the X, Y, and Z axes, and the orientation angle of the print head is adjusted by the cooperation of the A and C axes to print the first and second overflow walls. Thus, the print head can be moved in three axial directions (X, Y, and Z) and rotated in two rotational directions (A and C axes), allowing for free adjustment of the print head's position and orientation as needed.

[0045] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the five-axis linkage printing device has at least two print heads. In the step of printing the middle frame, the two print heads are used to simultaneously print the first overflow barrier and the second overflow barrier. Using two print heads to simultaneously print the first and second overflow barriers allows the printing of the overflow barrier to be completed in one step, saving process steps and making the process flow simpler.

[0046] Further reference Figure 1 , combined Figure 5 In some embodiments, during the step of printing the frame, the overflow barrier formed on the edge near the center of the printing substrate is a first overflow barrier 211; the overflow barrier formed on the edge away from the center of the printing substrate is a second overflow barrier 212; the second overflow barrier 212 is located at least at or outside the edge of the display module layer 120; the space 212 between the first overflow barrier 211 and the second overflow barrier is filled by printing to form a first filling layer 221; the first filling layer 221 covers the exposed surfaces of the display module layer 120 (including 121, 122) and the cover plate 130 in the edge area. Thus, the first filling layer 221 completely covers the surfaces of the display module layer 120 and the cover plate in the edge area, achieving protection.

[0047] Further reference Figure 6 The second overflow wall 212 is disposed at the edge of the display module layer 120; the step of printing the middle frame further includes: printing fill in the space between the second overflow wall 212 and the edge of the back plate 110 to form a second fill layer 222.

[0048] Due to the five-axis linkage method controlling the dual printheads to form an oblique overflow wall 210 (reference). Figure 1 This process is relatively difficult. Furthermore, the required angle results in relatively low printing accuracy, necessitating a very small needle-to-needle distance (typically within 100μm). Due to the stringent requirements for both needle-to-needle distance and angle, needle collisions are prone to occur. Therefore, by dividing the edge area into two regions through the edges of the overflow barrier 210 and the backplate 110, the middle frame is formed by filling these regions sequentially (i.e., dividing the area to form the first filling layer 221 and the second filling layer 222, which are then filled separately). This method allows for relative freedom in the formation angle of the overflow barrier 210, thereby allowing for more flexible setting of the printhead's orientation, reducing printing difficulty. Moreover, dividing the edge area into two regions allows for greater freedom in setting the printhead's orientation, enabling the needle-to-needle distance to exceed 500μm, further reducing the risk of needle collisions.

[0049] Further reference Figure 6In some embodiments, the display module layer 120 includes multiple layers, including at least a first display module layer 121 near the back panel and a second display module layer 122 away from the back panel; the distance between the edge of the first display module layer 121 and the edge of the back panel 110 is greater than the distance between the edge of the second display module layer 122 and the edge of the back panel 110, and a gap is formed between the second display module layer 122 and the back panel 110; the second overflow wall 212 is disposed at the edge of the second display module layer 122; in the step of printing the middle frame, the second filling layer 222 also fills the gap between the surface of the second display module layer 122 and the back panel 110.

[0050] In some embodiments, due to the design of the display module layer, an uneven edge is formed, creating a gap between part of the film layer and the back plate. The special position of the second overflow barrier 212 allows the second filling layer 222 to more easily fill the gap between the second display module layer 122 and the back plate 110 from the outside, resulting in tighter filling protection and better protection.

[0051] In some embodiments, the angle between the tangent of the arc surface of the edge region of the printing substrate and the first overflow wall 211, and the angle between the tangent of the arc surface of the edge region of the printing substrate and the second overflow wall 212, are the same. However, due to certain mechanical and operational errors, it is generally difficult to achieve absolute uniformity between the angles between the tangent of the arc surface of the edge region of the printing substrate and the first overflow wall, and between the tangent of the arc surface of the edge region of the printing substrate and the second overflow wall. Generally, a difference of less than 2° is considered acceptable. Identical angles can be achieved by controlling the position and orientation of the print head. Identical angles facilitate the formation of an arc surface in the middle frame that matches the arc surface of the edge region of the printing substrate.

[0052] In some other embodiments, the angle between the arcuate tangent of the edge region of the printing substrate and the first overflow wall 211 and the angle between the arcuate tangent of the edge region of the printing substrate and the second overflow wall 212 may also be different.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first overflow wall 211 forms an angle greater than 0° and less than 180° with the horizontal plane; the second overflow wall 212 forms an angle greater than 0° and less than 180° with the horizontal plane. Angles greater than 0° and less than 180° with the horizontal plane require minimal adjustment of the A-axis and C-axis, simplifying control and further reducing the risk of impact. In some preferred embodiments, the first overflow wall 211 and the second overflow wall 212 form an angle of 45°-135° with the horizontal plane. In some specific embodiments, the first overflow wall 211 and the second overflow wall 212 form an angle of 90° with the horizontal plane. When printing the first overflow barrier 211, the pin-to-pin distance between the print head and the printing surface is 10μm-1000μm; further, for example, it can be greater than 500μm and less than 1000μm. When printing the second overflow barrier 212, the pin-to-pin distance between the print head and the printing surface is 10μm-1000μm; further, for example, it can be greater than 500μm and less than 1000μm. A higher pin-to-pin distance (10μm-1000μm, especially 500μm-1000μm) can also reduce the risk of pin collision (specifically referring to the collision between the print head and the curved surface of the display device).

[0054] Furthermore, the middle frame material includes a first adhesive for forming the spill-proof wall and a second adhesive for printing and filling; the viscosity of the first adhesive is greater than that of the second adhesive; the first adhesive has shape retention, while the second adhesive has flowability; by printing the spill-proof wall and the filling layer separately according to the different viscosity properties of the adhesives, and selecting different printheads to print different adhesives, the final mold-forming effect can be better and the printing smoother. The first adhesive has better shape retention, and the second adhesive has better flowability. In some preferred embodiments, the viscosity of the first adhesive is 1,000,000 cps-2,000,000 cps; and the viscosity of the second adhesive is 50 cps-500 cps.

[0055] Furthermore, in the step of printing the middle frame, the printing methods include direct writing printing, piezoelectric valve printing, pin valve printing, and inkjet printing.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] This embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a display device, wherein the middle frame of the display device is formed by the middle frame forming method of the display device provided in the aforementioned embodiment 1.

[0058] The manufacturing method of the display device provided in this embodiment uses the mid-frame forming method provided by the present invention to form the mid-frame. A five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable printhead position and orientation angle is used to adjust the orientation angle and position of the printhead, forming an overflow barrier in the edge area. Using 3D printing instead of one-piece injection molding to form the barrier avoids deformation damage to the display module caused by one-piece injection molding. Furthermore, the five-axis linkage printing device allows for free adjustment of the printhead position and angle, facilitating the formation of the overflow barrier and filler layer. This allows for the convenient formation of a mid-frame that matches the curvature of the edge area, adapting to the needs of curved edges of display devices with different curvatures, thus having a wide range of applications. Therefore, only one set of equipment is needed for products with different curvatures, eliminating the need for re-molding and avoiding problems such as low mold utilization and long-term wear. It also eliminates the problem of mismatched frame dimensions in the final mold due to tolerances during mold manufacturing.

[0059] Example 3

[0060] This embodiment provides a printing device suitable for 3D printing a printing substrate to form a middle frame;

[0061] Combination Figure 1 The printing substrate includes a back plate, a display module layer, and a cover plate, all stacked and having the same curvature, arranged on a curved or flat surface. The edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate. The printing substrate includes an edge region, which comprises the edges of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate, and a region of a certain width extending from the edges of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate towards the center of the printing substrate. The curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than that in the non-edge region.

[0062] refer to Figure 7 The printing device includes:

[0063] Stage 310 is adapted to support the printing substrate A.

[0064] A printing unit is adapted to print a mid-frame material within the edge region to form a mid-frame with an arc matching the edge region; the printing unit includes a print head.

[0065] The bracket 320 is suitable for mounting the printing unit (including 331 and 332 in the figure); the bracket is also provided with a five-axis linkage assembly (not shown in the figure) connected to the print head. The five-axis linkage assembly adjusts the orientation angle and position of the print head, and forms a first anti-overflow wall and a second anti-overflow wall on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area close to the center position of the printing substrate.

[0066] A drive unit (not shown in the figure) is adapted to drive the support to move, thereby moving the printing unit; the drive unit is a variable speed drive device.

[0067] The numerical control unit (not shown in the figure) is adapted to control the drive unit to drive the bracket to move the printing unit and drive the five-axis linkage assembly to move and rotate the print head.

[0068] The printing apparatus provided by this invention is suitable for 3D printing a printing substrate to form a middle frame using the middle frame forming method provided by this invention. A five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable print head position and orientation angle is used to adjust the orientation angle and position of the print head, forming an overflow barrier in the edge area. Using 3D printing instead of one-piece injection molding to form the barrier avoids deformation damage to the display module caused by one-piece injection molding. Furthermore, the five-axis linkage printing device allows for free adjustment of the print head position and angle, facilitating the formation of the overflow barrier and filler layer. This allows for the convenient formation of a middle frame that matches the curvature of the edge area, adapting to the needs of curved edges of display devices with different curvatures, thus having a wide range of applications. Therefore, only one set of equipment is needed for products with different curvatures, eliminating the need for re-molding and avoiding problems such as low mold utilization and long-term wear. It also eliminates the problem of mismatched frame dimensions in the final mold due to tolerances during mold manufacturing.

[0069] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the five-axis linkage assembly includes a planar movement assembly and a rotation assembly; the planar movement assembly is adapted to move the print head within three orthogonal planes; the rotation assembly is adapted to rotate the print head along a certain rotation axis in two of the three orthogonal planes. This allows the print head to have five degrees of freedom in five directions to accommodate the curved surfaces of the printing substrate for printing.

[0070] Specifically, in some embodiments, the five-axis linkage assembly includes: an X-axis movement assembly, a Y-axis movement assembly, a Z-axis movement assembly, an A-axis rotation assembly, and a C-axis rotation assembly; wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular to each other in the horizontal plane, the Z-axis is perpendicular to the XY plane, the A-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XY plane, and the C-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XZ plane; the CNC unit is adapted to drive the X-axis movement assembly, the Y-axis movement assembly, the Z-axis movement assembly, the A-axis rotation assembly, and the C-axis rotation assembly to move and rotate the print head. This configuration allows the print head to have five degrees of freedom in five directions, enabling it to move or rotate via the five axes of the five-axis linkage assembly to accommodate the curved surfaces of the printing substrate for printing.

[0071] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the printing unit includes an overflow wall printing unit 331 and a filler glue printing unit 332; the overflow wall printing unit 331 includes one or more overflow wall printheads; the overflow wall printheads are connected to the five-axis linkage assembly; the filler glue printing unit 332 includes a filler glue printhead, which is separately connected to the five-axis linkage assembly.

[0072] In this way, by connecting different printheads to the five-axis linkage assembly, different printing requirements for the middle frame that match the curvature of the edge area can be met.

[0073] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for forming the middle frame of a display device, characterized in that, include: A printing substrate is provided, the printing substrate comprising a back plate, a display module layer and a cover plate, which are stacked and have the same curvature and are curved or flat. The edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate; the printing substrate includes an edge region, which includes the edge of the back plate, the edge of the display module layer, and the edge of the cover plate, as well as a region of a certain width from the edge of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate toward the center of the printing substrate; the curvature of the printing substrate in the edge region is greater than the curvature in the non-edge region; A middle frame is printed by printing middle frame material around the edge of the printing substrate within the edge area to form the middle frame; wherein, an overflow prevention wall is first formed in the edge area, and then a filling layer is formed by printing and filling in the area of ​​the edge area within the overflow prevention wall; including: using a five-axis linkage printing device with adjustable print head position and orientation angle, adjusting the orientation angle and position of the print head, and forming a first overflow prevention wall and a second overflow prevention wall on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area close to the center position of the printing substrate; In the step of printing the middle frame The overflow barrier formed on the edge near the center of the printed substrate is the first overflow barrier; The overflow barrier formed on the edge away from the center of the printed substrate is the second overflow barrier; The second overflow barrier is located at the edge of the display module layer; The space between the first overflow wall and the second overflow wall is filled by printing to form a first filling layer; the first filling layer covers the surface of the exposed display module layer in the edge area and the surface of the cover plate; The step of printing the middle frame also includes: The space between the second overflow wall and the edge of the back panel is printed with filler to form a second filler layer.

2. The method for forming the middle frame of the display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The five-axis linkage printing device has a print head that is adapted to move along mutually perpendicular X-axis and Y-axis in a horizontal plane, and is adapted to move along Z-axis in a plane perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis. It also has an A-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XY plane and a C-axis adapted to rotate the print head in the XZ plane. In the step of printing the middle frame, the print head is moved by the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis, and the orientation angle of the print head is adjusted by the A-axis and C-axis to print the first overflow wall and the second overflow wall.

3. The method for forming the middle frame of the display device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The five-axis linkage printing device has at least two print heads. In the step of printing the middle frame, the two print heads are used to simultaneously print the first anti-overflow wall and the second anti-overflow wall.

4. The method for forming the middle frame of the display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display module layer includes multiple layers, including at least a first display module layer close to the back panel and a second display module layer away from the back panel; the distance between the edge of the first display module layer and the edge of the back panel is greater than the distance between the edge of the second display module layer and the edge of the back panel, and a gap is formed between the second display module layer and the back panel; The second overflow barrier is located at the edge of the second display module layer; In the step of printing the middle frame, the second filling layer also fills the gap between the second display module layer and the surface of the back plate.

5. The method for forming the middle frame of the display device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The middle frame material includes a first adhesive for forming an overflow barrier and a second adhesive for printing and filling; the viscosity of the first adhesive is greater than that of the second adhesive; the first adhesive has shape retention properties, and the second adhesive has flowability.

6. The method for forming the middle frame of the display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing methods in the step of printing the middle frame include direct writing printing, piezoelectric valve printing, pin valve printing, and inkjet printing.

7. A method for manufacturing a display device, characterized in that, The mid-frame of the display device is formed by the mid-frame forming method of the display device as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. A printing apparatus, adapted to 3D print a printing substrate to form a mid-frame using the mid-frame forming method of the display device according to any one of claims 1-6; the printing substrate includes a back plate, a display module layer, and a cover plate, which are stacked and have the same curvature and are curved or planar; the edges of the display module layer and the cover plate are recessed inward relative to the edge of the back plate; the printing substrate includes an edge region, which includes the edge of the back plate, the edge of the display module layer, and the edge of the cover plate, and a region of a certain width from the edge of the back plate, the display module layer, and the cover plate toward the center of the printing substrate; The curvature of the printed substrate in the edge region is greater than that in the non-edge region; characterized in that... The printing device includes: A stage suitable for supporting the printing substrate; A printing unit is adapted to print a mid-frame material within the edge region to form a mid-frame with an arc matching the edge region; the printing unit includes a print head; A bracket is provided for mounting the printing unit; the bracket is also provided with a five-axis linkage assembly connected to the print head, the five-axis linkage assembly adjusting the orientation angle and position of the print head, forming a first anti-overflow wall and a second anti-overflow wall on the edge of the edge area near the center position of the printing substrate and on the edge of the edge area away from the center position of the printing substrate. A drive unit is adapted to drive the support to move, thereby moving the printing unit; the drive unit is a variable speed drive device. The numerical control unit is adapted to control the drive unit to drive the bracket to move the printing unit and to drive the five-axis linkage assembly to move and rotate the print head.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The five-axis linkage assembly includes a planar movement assembly and a rotation assembly; The planar motion component is adapted to move the print head in three orthogonal planes; The rotating assembly is adapted to drive the printhead to rotate along a certain rotation axis in two of the three orthogonal planes.

10. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The five-axis linkage assembly includes: an X-axis movement assembly, a Y-axis movement assembly, a Z-axis movement assembly, an A-axis rotation assembly, and a C-axis rotation assembly; wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular to each other in the horizontal plane, the Z-axis is perpendicular to the XY plane, the A-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XY plane, and the C-axis is a rotation axis that drives the print head to rotate in the XZ plane. The CNC unit is adapted to drive the X-axis moving component, Y-axis moving component, Z-axis moving component, A-axis rotating component and C-axis rotating component to move and rotate the print head.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The printing unit includes an anti-overflow wall printing unit and a filler glue printing unit; The anti-overflow wall printing unit includes one or more anti-overflow wall printheads; the anti-overflow wall printheads are connected to the five-axis linkage assembly; The filling adhesive printing unit includes a filling adhesive printhead, which is separately connected to the five-axis linkage assembly.

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