Key glass laminating machine and laminating method

By designing an auxiliary bonding plate and a special bonding process for the button glass bonding machine, the problem of air bubbles when bonding button glass with flat glass was solved, achieving high-quality product production and a good user experience.

CN121552782APending Publication Date: 2026-02-24CONHUI HUIZHOU SEMICON
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511757742.3
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-11-27
Publication Date
2026-02-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing glass laminating machines cannot effectively solve the problem of bonding button glass and flat glass, especially the problem of air bubbles in the raised areas, resulting in substandard product quality and poor user experience.

Method used

Design a button glass bonding machine that uses an auxiliary bonding plate and a special bonding process. The bonding recess of the auxiliary bonding plate accommodates the bulges of the button glass, ensuring that the glass is flat and positioned. A pressure roller and pressure adjustment component are used for precise bonding to avoid the bulges being crushed and air bubbles remaining.

Benefits of technology

It achieves high-precision bonding between the button glass and the flat glass, eliminating the bubble problem and improving product quality and the user's experience of the physical button's mechanical travel.

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Abstract

The invention discloses a key glass laminating machine and a laminating method, the key glass laminating machine comprises an auxiliary laminating plate, the auxiliary laminating plate is provided with a laminating concave part, the auxiliary laminating plate is used for nesting and placing key glass, and the laminating concave part is used for nesting a bulge of a key; one of the upper glass laminating mechanism and the lower glass laminating mechanism is provided with an auxiliary laminating plate, and the other one is used for placing substrate glass and laminating and assembling the substrate glass and key glass. According to the key glass laminating machine disclosed by the invention, a laminating process technical method of non-planar glass and planar glass of keys is mainly realized, and the problem of laminating bubbles is effectively solved through special equipment laminating platform design and a special laminating process method, and particularly, the problem of bubbles in raised areas and edges of the keys is effectively solved; according to the key touch panel and the manufacturing method thereof, the appearance problem of a product after fitting and assembling is avoided, the quality of the produced key touch panel product meets the requirements of a user, and when the user clicks the key touch panel with a finger, a good physical key mechanical stroke experience feeling is achieved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of manufacturing button glass touch panels, and particularly to a button glass bonding machine and bonding method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing touchscreen products, such as those commonly found in mobile phones, tablets, car infotainment screens, and industrial equipment touchscreens, mostly use flat buttons that rely solely on capacitive sensing for touch functionality. They lack mechanical travel and physical tactile feedback, resulting in unintuitive operation and a less than ideal user experience. This is especially problematic when users require blind operation, such as when a driver uses a mobile phone, tablet, or car infotainment screen to set navigation menus. Traditional touchscreens struggle to accurately identify button locations blindly, requiring the driver to look down to confirm button positions, thus distracting the driver and posing a serious safety hazard. Furthermore, some touch-sensitive structures require additional components like metal springs and silicone protrusions, increasing device thickness and assembly complexity. These components may also age and degrade their tactile sensitivity, affecting the device's lifespan. Meanwhile, the touch sensitivity of existing touch buttons is easily affected by environmental factors. For example, in high temperature and humid environments, the signal transmission between the button and the sensing module is prone to interference, resulting in false triggering or trigger delay. Moreover, the structural design of most touch buttons is difficult to take into account waterproof and dustproof performance. When used in outdoor or industrial scenarios, the internal circuit is easily damaged by foreign objects, which limits its application range.

[0003] Therefore, the applicant of this invention has specially developed and designed a special button glass, thereby developing a unique touch screen product that provides physical tactile feedback through the special button glass. The touch screen is mainly composed of button glass and substrate glass bonded together with optical adhesive. The button glass has a raised area, which creates a certain downward pressure space below the raised area. When the user presses on the raised area of ​​the button glass, the raised area can move down appropriately. When the user releases the pressure, the raised area rebounds, transmitting the force to the user's finger and giving the user more physical tactile feedback. The rebound of the raised area can even generate a certain micro-vibration, forming a button sound. The feedback is more intuitive, the operation is more precise, and the user experience is better.

[0004] However, existing glass laminating machines are designed and manufactured for laminating traditional touchscreen products, without considering the presence of raised areas on the glass substrate to be laminated, leading to problems during lamination. Because the button glass has raised areas, directly placing it onto the placement plate during lamination has two main issues: First, the raised areas cause uneven placement of the button glass, reducing the alignment and bonding accuracy with the substrate glass. Furthermore, during bubble removal, the pressure of the pressing rollers becomes uneven and unstable, making the button glass prone to movement and ultimately resulting in incomplete bubble removal. Second, under excessive pressure, the raised areas can easily collapse completely, leading to product defects. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a button glass bonding machine, which mainly realizes the bonding process technology method between non-planar glass and planar glass for buttons. Through a special equipment bonding platform design and a special bonding process method, it effectively solves the problem of bonding air bubbles, especially effectively solving the problem of air bubbles in the raised areas and edges of the buttons. This results in a product with no appearance problems after bonding and assembly, and the quality of the produced button touch panel products meets user requirements. When users click the button touch panel, they have a good physical button mechanical travel experience.

[0006] The present invention also proposes a button glass bonding method using the above-mentioned button glass bonding machine.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a button glass bonding machine is used for bonding and assembling a substrate glass and a button glass, wherein the button glass is provided with a protrusion, and the button glass bonding machine includes: an auxiliary bonding plate with a bonding recess, the auxiliary bonding plate being used to nest the button glass, the bonding recess being used to nest the protrusion of the button glass; an upper glass bonding mechanism; a lower glass bonding mechanism; one of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is used to mount the auxiliary bonding plate, and the other is used to place the substrate glass; at least one of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is used to bond and assemble the substrate glass and the button glass.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a button glass bonding machine has at least the following technical effects: An auxiliary bonding plate is provided, and the auxiliary bonding plate has bonding recesses. During the bonding and assembly of the substrate glass and the button glass, the bonding recesses can accommodate the protrusions of the button glass, thereby making the button glass flat and facilitating subsequent positioning and alignment of the substrate glass and the button glass, as well as pressing by the pressing rollers. Furthermore, the bonding recesses accommodate the protrusions of the button glass, preventing them from being crushed. The button glass bonding machine of the present invention mainly realizes the bonding process technology method between non-planar button glass and planar glass. Through a special equipment bonding platform design and a special bonding process method, it effectively solves the bonding bubble problem, especially effectively solving the bubble problem in the button protrusion area and along the edges. This results in a product without appearance problems after bonding and assembly, and the quality of the produced button touch panel products meets user requirements. When users click the button touch panel, they experience a good physical button mechanical travel feel.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the upper glass bonding mechanism includes an upper vacuum adsorption plate, a flipping drive and a first upper mounting base, the upper vacuum adsorption plate is rotatably connected to the first upper mounting base, the flipping drive is drively connected to the upper vacuum adsorption plate, and the upper vacuum adsorption plate is used to adsorb the substrate glass.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the upper glass bonding mechanism further includes a lifting drive, a second upper mounting seat, and a transverse drive assembly. The transverse drive assembly is tractively connected to the second upper mounting seat. The first upper mounting seat and the second upper mounting seat are slidably connected in a lifting manner. The lifting drive is tractively connected to the first upper mounting seat.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism includes a lower placement plate and a position adjustment assembly, the lower placement plate being used to place the button glass, and the position adjustment assembly being connected to the lower placement plate.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the position adjustment assembly includes front and rear slide rails, front and rear sliding seats, a sliding drive, a position adjustment rotating seat, and a rotation drive. The front and rear sliding seats are slidably connected to the front and rear slide rails, the sliding drive is throttle connected to the front and rear sliding seats, the position adjustment rotating seat is rotatably connected to the front and rear sliding seats, the rotation drive is throttle connected to the position adjustment rotating seat, and the lower placement plate is disposed on the position adjustment rotating seat.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism further includes a pressing roller and a pressing moving assembly, the pressing moving assembly being tractively connected to the pressing roller, the pressing roller being used to press the bonded substrate glass and the button glass together.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism further includes a pressure adjusting assembly, which includes a pressing mounting plate, a pressure adjusting plate, a connecting rod, and a pressing mounting base. The pressing moving assembly is throttlely connected to the pressing mounting base. One end of the pressing mounting plate is connected to the pressing roller, and the other end of the pressing mounting plate is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. The pressure adjusting plate and the connecting rod are both disposed on the pressing mounting base. The pressing mounting plate is provided with a plurality of first connecting rings, and the pressure adjusting plate is provided with a plurality of second connecting rings. The first connecting rings are used to connect one end of the elastic element, and the second connecting rings are used to connect the other end of the elastic element. The elastic element is used to adjust the pressing force between the substrate glass and the button glass.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure regulating assembly further includes a release slide, a release block, and a release drive member. The release slide is disposed on the pressing mounting base, the release block is slidably connected to the release slide, the release drive member is drively connected to the release block, and the connecting rod is disposed on the release block.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressing and moving assembly includes a pressing screw, a pressing nut, and a pressing and moving drive, wherein the pressing roller is connected to the pressing nut, the pressing screw is connected to the pressing nut, and the pressing and moving drive is drivingly connected to the pressing screw.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for bonding key glass, using the aforementioned key glass bonding machine, includes the following steps: one of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is equipped with an auxiliary bonding plate, and the other is used to place a substrate glass; the key glass is placed on the auxiliary bonding plate, and the bonding recess of the auxiliary bonding plate abuts against the protrusion of the key glass; the upper glass bonding mechanism and / or the lower glass bonding mechanism bond and assemble the substrate glass and the key glass.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for bonding button glass has at least the following technical effects: by using an auxiliary bonding plate, when bonding and assembling the substrate glass and the button glass, the bonding recess of the auxiliary bonding plate can abut against the protrusion of the button glass, so that the protruding area will not sink under bonding pressure and pressing roller pressure, and air bubbles will not accumulate in the protruding area. As a result, the air bubbles in the bonded and assembled product are very few or even completely eliminated, and the final produced touch screen product has good quality and excellent physical tactile feel when the user touches and presses it.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the bonding process of the button glass bonding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly of the button glass bonding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic of the overall assembly of the button glass bonding machine after the outer shell has been removed. Figure 4 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the overall assembly of the lower glass bonding mechanism of the button glass bonding machine. Figure 5 for Figure 4 The top view of the glass bonding mechanism shown. Figure 6 for Figure 4 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the glass bonding mechanism.

[0021] Figure label: Upper glass bonding mechanism 100, upper vacuum adsorption plate 110, flipping drive component 120, first upper mounting base 130, lifting drive component 140, second upper mounting base 150, transverse drive assembly 160, transverse lead screw 161, transverse nut 162, transverse sliding rod 163, transverse drive component 164; The components include: a lower glass bonding mechanism 200, a lower placement plate 210, a position adjustment assembly 220, front and rear slide rails 221, front and rear sliding seats 222, a sliding drive component 223, a position adjustment rotating seat 224, a rotation drive component 225, a pressing roller 230, a pressing moving assembly 240, a pressing screw 241, a pressing nut 242, a pressing moving drive component 243, a pressure adjusting assembly 250, a pressing mounting plate 251, a first connecting ring 251a, a pressure adjusting plate 252, a second connecting ring 252a, a connecting rod 253, a pressing mounting seat 254, a release slide rod 255, a release block 256, a release drive component 257, a limit insert rod 258, a sealing box 260, a sealing box cover 270, a sealing drive component 280, and a button recess 291. Alignment mechanism 300, upper inspection piece 310, lower inspection piece 320; Static eliminator 400; Casing 500; Button glass 610, raised section 611, substrate glass 620, placement plate 640, auxiliary bonding plate 650, bonding recess 651. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "point," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and "around," are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description. They 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. In the description of this invention, sidewalls refer to the left side wall and / or the right side wall.

[0024] In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more; "greater than," "less than," "exceeding," etc., are understood to exclude the number itself; and "above," "below," "within," etc., are understood to include the number itself. Where "first" or "second" is used, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the sequential relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that "A is set on B" or "A is set on B" describes the connection or positional relationship between A and B, and does not mean that A is necessarily above B.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, movable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication of two components. "Bolt connection" and "screw connection" can be used interchangeably. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood in conjunction with the specific circumstances. It should be understood that multiple similar features in this invention are only distinguished by different prefixes. Therefore, in this invention, feature names without distinguishing prefixes (or feature names with partial prefixes) are used to represent the combination of similar features of this type. For example, "detection element" is used to represent the upper detection element 310 and the lower detection element 320, and "driving element" is used to represent various driving elements (such as the flip driving element 120, the lateral driving element 164, the release driving element 257, etc.).

[0027] Reference Figures 1 to 3 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a button glass bonding machine is used for bonding and assembling a substrate glass 620 and a button glass 610. The button glass 610 is provided with a protrusion 611. The button glass bonding machine includes: an auxiliary bonding plate 650, provided with a bonding recess 651, the auxiliary bonding plate 650 for nesting and placing the button glass 610, and the bonding recess 651 for nesting (abutting) the protrusion 611 of the button glass 610; an upper glass bonding mechanism 100; a lower glass bonding mechanism 200; one of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 is mounted (or connected) to the auxiliary bonding plate 650 (and the auxiliary bonding plate 650 is used to place the button glass 610), and the other is used to place the substrate glass 620; at least one of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 is used for bonding and assembling the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 (on the auxiliary bonding plate 650).

[0028] Both the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 are glass components. It's important to understand that the final touchscreen and touchscreen product, in addition to the substrate glass 620 and button glass 610, may also include other glass, thin film, and transparent plastic components, such as a cover glass, OLED screen, polarizer, decorative film, functional film, and protective mold, or one or more of these. At least one of the bonding surfaces of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 will have adhesive applied, specifically optical adhesive (OCA), to facilitate bonding and fixing the substrate glass 620 and button glass 610 together after bonding.

[0029] It is important to understand that the specific shape of the raised section 611 of the button glass 610, and the corresponding mating recess 651, is not limited. For example, it can be hemispherical, spherical, cuboid (with chamfered or rounded corners; other shapes can be similarly provided), cube, elliptical, triangular, or a combination thereof (compound means multiple uses of the same shape, and combination means using different shapes in combination). The specific shape can be determined based on actual needs and circumstances. It is also important to understand that the auxiliary mating plate 650 can have a positioning groove, and the mating recess 651 is located within this groove. This specifically designed positioning groove facilitates the positioning and placement of button glass 610 of a specific shape and specification. The auxiliary mating plate 650 can be connected to the glass mating mechanism (or installed on the glass mating mechanism) via welding, gluing, bolting, snap-fitting, plugging, sliding, or integrated connection.

[0030] It should be understood that the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 in existing glass bonding equipment are generally provided with a placement plate 640, which is used to place the glass substrate (in this embodiment, the glass substrate is the button glass 610 and the substrate glass 620). In some embodiments, the auxiliary bonding plate 650 may also be provided on the upper placement plate (the component of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 used to place the glass substrate, which in some specific embodiments is the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110). It should be understood that the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 position and bond the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 to ensure that the two glass substrates are accurately bonded together. At this time, the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 will also apply a certain bonding pressure to the two glass substrates, so that the two glass substrates are initially bonded together and can be easily separated without being affected by external forces (such as gravity or vacuum adsorption force). Subsequently, in some embodiments, the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 can further press the two glass substrates together to make the two glass substrates bond tightly. In some embodiments, defoaming work can also be further performed (or performed simultaneously with pressing). The upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 can drive the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 (on the auxiliary bonding plate 650) to come closer together and bond, thereby bonding and assembling the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. Specifically, the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 can be integrated into a multi-joint robotic arm structure, or they can be composed of multiple more independent components as in this invention, such as driving components for movement, such as motors, cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, etc.; sliding components that facilitate movement and have certain limiting or even supporting functions, such as slide rails, sliding seats, sliding rods, sliding blocks, rotating seats, etc.; intermediate transmission components, such as lead screws and nuts; and bases for component mounting, such as mounting seats, rotating seats, etc. All of the above components are combined to form the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200.

[0031] The button glass bonding machine of the present invention is provided with an auxiliary bonding plate 650, which has a bonding recess 651. During the bonding and assembly of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, the bonding recess 651 can accommodate the protrusions 611 of the button glass 610, thereby ensuring the button glass 610 is placed flat. This facilitates the subsequent positioning and alignment of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, as well as the pressing by the pressing roller 230. When the pressing roller 230 removes air bubbles, it can apply pressure as much as possible. All the force is applied to the non-button raised area, resulting in a tighter fit between the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, and a better bubble removal effect. Furthermore, the bonding recess 651 accommodates the raised area 611 of the button glass 610, preventing it from being crushed. This is especially important during bubble removal by the pressure roller 230, where the pressure is high and could easily crush or even completely shatter the raised area 611, which is also thinner. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the bonding recess 651 can completely abut the raised area 611; in other embodiments, the bonding recess 651 partially abuts or does not abut the raised area 611 at all, leaving the raised area completely suspended.

[0032] The button glass bonding machine of this invention mainly realizes the bonding process technology of non-planar glass and planar glass for buttons. Through a special equipment bonding platform design and a special bonding process, it effectively solves the problem of bonding air bubbles, especially effectively solves the problem of air bubbles in the raised area and edge of the button. This makes the product after bonding and assembly free of appearance problems, and the quality of the produced button touch panel products meets the user's requirements. When the user's finger clicks the button touch panel, there is a good physical button mechanical travel experience.

[0033] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the button glass bonding machine further includes an alignment mechanism 300, which includes an upper detection element 310, a lower detection element 320, and a control element. The upper detection element 310 and the lower detection element 320 are both electrically connected to the control element. The upper detection element 310 is used to detect the position of the substrate glass 620, and the lower detection element 320 is used to detect the position of the button glass 610. At least one of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 is electrically connected to the control element.

[0034] At least one of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 can adjust the position of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 according to the detected position information, thereby ensuring high alignment accuracy of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 during bonding and assembly.

[0035] The upper detection component 310 and lower detection component 320 can be various imaging components, such as high-precision CCD (charge-coupled device) cameras, providing visual inspection results. They can also be various detection sensors. The control element then calculates and adjusts the positions of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 based on the detected information, thereby enabling high-precision alignment and bonding of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 when they are brought close together. The control element is a component with calculation and control functions, specifically, it can be various microprocessors, chips, CPUs, etc. The connection between the control element and other components can be a wired connection or a wireless connection (wireless network connection, Bluetooth connection, etc.). The specific calculation program and principle of the control element are existing technologies and will not be elaborated here.

[0036] The upper detection component 310 detects the position of the substrate glass 620, and the lower detection component 320 detects the position of the button glass 610. The control element then controls the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and / or the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 to bond and assemble the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 according to the detection results. The substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 have good alignment accuracy. The substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 are bonded and assembled by the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and / or the lower glass bonding mechanism 200, resulting in high production efficiency.

[0037] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 includes an upper vacuum adsorption plate 110, a flipping drive 120 and a first upper mounting base 130. The upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 is rotatably connected to the first upper mounting base 130, and the flipping drive 120 is drively connected to the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110. The upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 is used to adsorb the substrate glass 620.

[0038] After the substrate glass 620 is placed on the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110, the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 vacuum adsorbs and fixes the substrate glass 620. The flipping drive 120 drives the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 to flip relative to the first upper mounting base 130, so that the substrate glass 620 on the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 flips to the bottom of the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110, which facilitates subsequent bonding and assembly with the button glass 610.

[0039] It is important to understand that the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 has numerous tiny adsorption holes (with a diameter of less than 1 mm) densely arranged on it. These holes are connected to a vacuum device (such as a vacuum generator), which generates a vacuum suction force to adsorb and fix the substrate glass 620 onto the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110. This ensures that even if the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 is flipped, the substrate glass 620 will not fall off. Because the adsorption holes are very small, their suction range is also small, and they have virtually no impact on the button glass 610. The flipping drive component 120 can specifically be a stepper motor or a servo motor. It is also important to understand that the specific connecting pipes (air pipes, water pipes, wires) of various drive components in this invention, and the power sources for pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical systems (air compressor bottles, pneumatic stations, hydraulic stations, factory power interfaces, generators), are common in the prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0040] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 further includes a lifting drive 140, a second upper mounting base 150, and a transverse drive assembly 160. The transverse drive assembly 160 is drivenly connected to the second upper mounting base 150. The first upper mounting base 130 and the second upper mounting base 150 are slidably connected in a lifting manner. The lifting drive 140 is drivenly connected to the first upper mounting base 130. The transverse drive assembly 160 (transverse drive 164) is electrically connected to the control element.

[0041] After the position information of the glass substrate is detected by the detection component, the control element controls the horizontal movement drive assembly 160 to move the substrate glass 620 (the second upper mounting base 150, the first upper mounting base 130 connected to the second upper mounting base 150, the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 on the first upper mounting base 130, and the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110) to a suitable position above the button glass 610. The left and right positions of the substrate glass 620 relative to the button glass 610 are adjusted. The flip drive 120 drives the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 to flip. The lifting drive 140 drives the substrate glass 620 (the first upper mounting base 130, the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 on the first upper mounting base 130, and the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110) to move down, so that the substrate glass 620 can be close to and fit against the button glass 610.

[0042] The lifting drive component 140 can specifically be a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric cylinder, motor, etc. The first upper mounting base 130 and the second upper mounting base 150 are slidably connected by some additional structures (such as slide rods or sliders with sliding holes), thereby playing a certain limiting and guiding role. Furthermore, other similar structures in this invention, in addition to the basic functions of guiding, preventing deviation of the movement path, and ensuring smooth operation of the components, may also play a load-bearing role, preventing the drive component from bearing weight, and may also reduce friction. For example, the position adjustment rotating seat 224 and the front and rear sliding seats 222 can be connected by bearings, which can play various roles such as guiding, load-bearing, and reducing friction. Lateral movement specifically refers to left and right lateral movement; lifting refers to up and down lifting.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the transverse drive assembly 160 includes a transverse lead screw 161, a transverse nut 162, a transverse sliding rod 163, and a transverse drive member 164. The transverse nut 162 is disposed on the second upper mounting base 150. The transverse lead screw 161 is connected to the transverse nut 162. The transverse drive member 164 is connected to the transverse lead screw 161 in a transmission manner. The second upper mounting base 150 and the transverse sliding rod 163 are slidably connected.

[0044] The lead screw and nut structure is a classic mechanical transmission structure, so its specific working process and operating principle will not be elaborated here. The transverse sliding rod 163, as described above, serves a basic guiding function, prevents deviation from the movement path, and ensures smooth operation of the components. It also bears weight, reducing the load on the transverse lead screw 161 and transverse nut 162, and facilitating the rotation of the transverse lead screw 161 to drive the transverse nut 162 to move left and right. The transverse drive component 164 can be a motor, specifically a stepper motor or a servo motor. The button glass bonding machine may also include a housing 500, with the transverse lead screw 161 rotatably connected to the housing 500.

[0045] The lead screw and nut structure, in conjunction with the motor, can precisely move the position of the substrate glass 620 laterally, thereby allowing the substrate glass 620 to be precisely moved to a suitable position above the button glass 610, improving the alignment accuracy of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610.

[0046] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 includes a lower placement plate 210 and a position adjustment component 220. The lower placement plate 210 is used to place the button glass 610, and the position adjustment component 220 is connected to the lower placement plate 210 and electrically connected to the control element.

[0047] The position adjustment component 220 can precisely adjust the position and orientation of the button glass 610, thereby ensuring accurate alignment between the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. Specifically, the position adjustment component 220 can be composed of multiple parts, such as driving components for movement (motors, cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, etc.), sliding components that facilitate movement and provide certain limiting or even support functions (slide rails, slide seats, slide rods, slide blocks, rotating seats, etc.), intermediate transmission components (lead screws and nuts, etc.), and bases for component mounting (mounting seats, rotating seats, etc.). All these components are combined to form the position adjustment component 220.

[0048] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the position adjustment assembly 220 includes a front and rear slide rail 221, a front and rear sliding seat 222, a sliding drive 223, a position adjustment rotating seat 224, and a rotation drive 225. The front and rear sliding seats 222 and the front and rear slide rails 221 are slidably connected. The sliding drive 223 is throttle connected to the front and rear sliding seats 222. The position adjustment rotating seat 224 and the front and rear sliding seats 222 are rotatably connected. The rotation drive 225 is throttle connected to the position adjustment rotating seat 224. The lower placement plate 210 is disposed on the position adjustment rotating seat 224. Both the sliding drive 223 and the rotation drive 225 are electrically connected to the control element.

[0049] The rotation drive 225 rotates the position adjustment rotating seat 224, thereby adjusting the angle (or posture) of the button glass 610 (on the lower placement plate 210 on the position adjustment rotating seat 224 and on the lower placement plate 210) relative to the substrate glass 620. The sliding drive 223 drives the front and rear sliding seats 222 to slide back and forth on the front and rear slide rails 221, thereby adjusting the front and rear position of the button glass 610 (on the position adjustment rotating seat 224 on the front and rear sliding seats 222, on the lower placement plate 210 on the position adjustment rotating seat 224 and on the lower placement plate 210) relative to the substrate glass 620. The horizontal movement drive assembly 160 adjusts the left and right position of the substrate glass 620 relative to the button glass 610, and the above components adjust the front and rear position and angle (or posture) of the button glass 610 relative to the substrate glass 620, thereby ensuring precise alignment and bonding of the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, resulting in better product quality.

[0050] The sliding drive component 223 can be a motor, specifically a linear motor. The rotation drive component 225 can also be a motor, specifically a stepper motor or a servo motor.

[0051] It is important to understand that the driving components (various types of driving parts) mentioned in this invention are connected to the driven components. The driving component can be directly connected to the driven component, directly driving its movement. Alternatively, the driving component can be indirectly connected to the driven component through intermediate transmission components (such as ropes, rods, gears, racks, belts, chains, lead screws, nuts, magnetic blocks, etc., or one or more reused or combined components). This allows for changes in the speed, direction, magnitude, range, start time, total duration, number of actions, and position of the driving force applied to the driven component. The driving source (or driving component) can be more than one; multiple components can be provided, enabling the driven component to move along different directions and paths. For example, the connection between the rotation driving component 225 and the position adjustment rotating seat 224 can be achieved through a pair of bevel gears as an intermediate transmission component, facilitating power transmission and spatial arrangement of the rotation driving component 225.

[0052] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 further includes a pressing roller 230 and a pressing moving assembly 240, the pressing moving assembly 240 being drivenly connected to the pressing roller 230, the pressing roller 230 being used to press the bonded substrate glass 620 and button glass 610 together.

[0053] After the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 are initially bonded together, the pressing moving component 240 drives the pressing roller 230 to roll and press on the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. On the one hand, this allows the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 to bond further, making the connection tighter and stronger, and promoting the uniform distribution of the adhesive. On the other hand, by creating a vacuum (or near-vacuum) environment around the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, the pressing roller 230 can squeeze out the air remaining between the substrate glass 620, the button glass 610, and the adhesive when it rolls and presses on them, effectively removing air bubbles.

[0054] Furthermore, in the existing technology, the lack of a dedicated auxiliary bonding plate 650 causes the raised area to sink, resulting in the pressure, which should be evenly distributed on the glass substrate surface, concentrating on the raised area 611. This leads to uneven pressure from the pressing roller 230 on the glass substrate, easily causing excessive pressure in some areas, potentially damaging the glass substrate, while also causing insufficient pressure in other areas, resulting in poor bubble removal. However, by providing the auxiliary bonding plate 650, which has a bonding recess 651, the raised area is prevented from sinking under pressure. This ensures that the bonding surfaces (or bonding lines) of the button glass 610 and the substrate glass 620 remain flat, facilitating smooth bonding and bubble removal of the button glass 610 and the substrate glass 620 under the pressure of the pressing roller 230.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 further includes a pressure regulating component 250. The pressure regulating component 250 includes a pressing mounting plate 251, a pressure regulating plate 252, a connecting rod 253, and a pressing mounting base 254. The pressing moving component 240 is connected to the pressing mounting base 254. One end of the pressing mounting plate 251 is connected to the pressing roller 230, and the other end of the pressing mounting plate 251 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 253. The pressure regulating plate 252 and the connecting rod 253 are both disposed on the pressing mounting base 254. A plurality of first connecting rings 251a are disposed on the pressing mounting plate 251, and a plurality of second connecting rings 252a are disposed on the pressure regulating plate 252. The first connecting rings 251a are used to connect one end of the elastic element, and the second connecting rings 252a are used to connect the other end of the elastic element. The elastic element is used to adjust the pressing force between the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610.

[0056] When the pressing roller 230 is pressed onto the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 by components such as cylinders, especially when the pressing roller 230 first contacts the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, the force transmitted by the cylinder is a rigid impact force, which can easily crush the relatively brittle substrate glass 620 and button glass 610. Especially after long-term use of the device, due to component wear and other factors causing positioning errors, if the pressing roller 230 moves to the wrong position, it is easy to cause the pressure to be too high or too low. If the pressure is too high, it will easily crush the glass substrate, while if the pressure is too low, the defoaming effect will be poor. Moreover, due to the presence of the protrusion 611 on the button glass 610, the thickness of the protrusion area (or the area above the protrusion 611, the area near the protrusion 611) is relatively thin, making it more easily crushed. Therefore, compared with the existing technology of directly applying pressure with cylinders for defoaming, a more flexible and adjustable pressure source is needed. When the pressing roller 230 presses against the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 using elastic elements, the elastic elements, possessing a certain elasticity, can undergo elastic deformation. The force transmitted to the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 has a buffer zone, ensuring that the pressure exerted by the pressing roller 230 on the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 remains within a suitable range—neither too high nor too low—preventing damage to the glass substrate while maintaining a consistently good defoaming effect. The multiple first connecting rings 251a and second connecting rings 252a are provided to ensure sufficient elastic elements can be connected to guarantee the basic pressing force (or the pressure on the button glass 610 and the substrate glass 620), and also to facilitate adjustment of the number and position of the connected elastic elements, thereby adjusting the specific magnitude of the pressing force. This ensures that the most suitable pressing force can be adjusted for different products. It should be understood that the elastic elements can be metal springs, elastic plastic parts, gas springs, etc.

[0057] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure regulating assembly 250 further includes a release slide 255, a release block 256 and a release drive member 257. The release slide 255 is disposed on the pressing mounting base 254, the release block 256 is slidably connected to the release slide 255, the release drive member 257 is drively connected to the release block 256, and the connecting rod 253 is disposed on the release block 256.

[0058] When the button glass bonding machine (hereinafter referred to as the 'device') is not working, the loosening drive 257 can be used to drive the loosening block 256 to slide upward along the loosening slide bar 255, thereby causing the connecting rod 253 to move upward. The connecting rod 253, the pressing mounting plate 251, etc. are located above the lower placement plate 210. The upward movement of the connecting rod 253 can bring the first connecting ring 251a on the pressing mounting plate 251 and the pressing roller 230 closer to the pressure regulating plate 252, thereby reducing or even completely eliminating the elastic force accumulated in the elastic element. The degree of elastic deformation of the elastic element is reduced or even completely eliminated, thereby loosening the elastic element and extending its service life. When the device needs to be restarted, the release drive 257 drives the release block 256 to slide downwards along the release slide bar 255, reopening the distance between the pressure roller 230 and the pressure regulating plate 252, and pulling apart the elastic element. This increases the pressure of the pressure roller 230 on the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 (on the lower placement plate 210), allowing the pressure roller 230 to press firmly against the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. The release drive 257 can be a cylinder, specifically a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric cylinder, etc.

[0059] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the pressing and moving assembly 240 includes a pressing screw 241, a pressing nut 242, and a pressing and moving drive 243. The pressing roller 230 is connected to the pressing nut 242 (the pressing roller 230 is connected to the pressing mounting base 254, and the pressing nut 242 is disposed on the pressing mounting base 254). The pressing screw 241 and the pressing nut 242 are connected. The pressing and moving drive 243 is connected to the pressing screw 241 for transmission.

[0060] The pressing movement drive component 243 drives the pressing screw 241 to rotate, thereby causing the pressing nut 242 to move (left and right). The pressing nut 242 drives the pressing mounting base 254 to move, which in turn drives other components such as the pressing roller 230 set on the pressing mounting base 254 to move. The pressing roller 230 rolls on the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, pressing the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 evenly and comprehensively, and facilitating the expulsion of air bubbles between the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. The pressing screw 241 is rotatably connected to the sealing housing 260 or the outer shell 500. The pressing movement drive component 243 can be a motor, specifically a stepper motor or a servo motor.

[0061] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower placement plate 210 is provided with a plurality of vacuum adsorption holes.

[0062] Referring to the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 described above, similarly, the lower placement plate 210 can also be provided with vacuum adsorption holes. These small-diameter, numerous vacuum adsorption holes can securely fix the button glass 610 when the position adjustment component 220 adjusts its position and orientation, preventing it from shifting or changing its posture. They can also adsorb and fix the button glass 610 when the device or the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 vibrates. It should be understood that the vacuum adsorption holes, in conjunction with the adsorption holes on the upper vacuum adsorption plate 110 and the lower placement plate 210, can evacuate the air inside the sealed box 260, creating a vacuum or near-vacuum environment within the sealed box 260. In particular, since the vacuum adsorption holes and adsorption holes are located near the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, they can maximize the vacuum (near-vacuum) environment around the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610. Even if other areas within the sealed box 260 have poor sealing, the impact on the vacuum environment around the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610 is minimized.

[0063] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure regulating assembly 250 further includes a limiting rod 258, which is movably connected to the pressing mounting base 254. One end of the limiting rod 258 is used to abut against the relaxation block 256, thereby preventing the relaxation block 256 from sliding along the relaxation slide bar 255.

[0064] When the device is working, the release drive 257 drives the release block 256 to slide downwards along the release slide bar 255. When the release block 256 moves to a predetermined position, the limiting rod 258 (partially) can move above the release block 256 and abut against the upper surface of the release block 256, thereby preventing the release block 256 from sliding upwards along the release slide bar 255. At this time, the release drive 257 no longer needs to provide the force to drive the release block 256 downwards, thus saving energy and making the limiting of the release block 256 more stable and reliable. When the device is not working, the limiting rod 258 (partially) above the release block 256 can be removed, thus facilitating the release block 256 to slide upwards along the release slide bar 255. It should be understood that the limiting rod 258 can be plugged into the pressing mounting base 254, and both ends of the limiting rod 258 have large expansion portions, so that the limiting rod 258 cannot disengage from the plugging hole on the pressing mounting base 254.

[0065] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 further includes a sealing box 260 and a sealing box cover 270. The lower placement plate 210 and the position adjustment assembly 220 (as well as all other components of the lower glass bonding mechanism 200) are all located inside the sealing box 260. The sealing box cover 270 and the sealing box 260 are movably connected, and the sealing box cover 270 is used to close the sealing box 260.

[0066] A sealed housing 260 and a sealed cover 270 are provided. After the sealed cover 270 closes the sealed housing 260, a sealed space is formed inside the sealed housing 260. At this time, the sealed housing 260 is evacuated to a vacuum or near-vacuum environment by a vacuuming assembly or other structural components (such as the aforementioned adsorption holes), facilitating the removal of air bubbles by the subsequent pressing roller 230. Specifically, the front and rear slide rails 221 and the pressing screw 241 are all connected to the sealed housing 260. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the sealed housing 260 and the sealed cover 270 are not provided; instead, the entire space inside the outer casing 500 is evacuated.

[0067] Furthermore, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 also includes a vacuum assembly, which is connected to the sealed housing 260. The sealed housing 260 can be vacuumed using the dedicated vacuum assembly.

[0068] Furthermore, the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 also includes a sealing drive 280, which is drive-connected to the sealing cover 270. The sealing drive 280 can actively close the sealing cover 270.

[0069] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the button glass bonding machine further includes at least one antistatic component 400, which is used to remove static electricity from the substrate glass 620 and / or the button glass 610.

[0070] During long-term storage, glass substrates are prone to static electricity due to friction and the removal of protective films and adhesive release films. The presence of static electricity hinders subsequent bonding and assembly of the two glass substrates. Therefore, an antistatic component 400 can be provided to remove static electricity from the substrate glass 620 and / or the button glass 610. Specifically, the antistatic component 400 can be an ionizer, ion generator, blower fan, etc.

[0071] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3According to an embodiment of the present invention, the button glass bonding method using the aforementioned button glass bonding machine includes the following steps: one of the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 is equipped with an auxiliary bonding plate 650, and the other is used to place a substrate glass 620; the button glass 610 is placed on the auxiliary bonding plate 650, and the bonding recess 651 of the auxiliary bonding plate 650 abuts against the protrusion 611 of the button glass 610; the upper glass bonding mechanism 100 and / or the lower glass bonding mechanism 200 bond and assemble the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610.

[0072] By using the auxiliary bonding plate 650, when bonding the substrate glass 620 and the button glass 610, the bonding recess 651 of the auxiliary bonding plate 650 can accommodate the protrusion 611 of the button glass 610, so that the protrusion area will not collapse under the bonding pressure and the pressure of the pressing roller 230. The defoaming pressure can be applied to the actual bonding area, resulting in very few or even completely eliminated bubbles in the bonded product. The final touch screen product produced is of high quality and has an excellent physical feel when the user touches and presses it.

[0073] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A button glass bonding machine for bonding and assembling a substrate glass and a button glass, wherein the button glass is provided with protrusions, characterized in that, The button glass bonding machine includes: An auxiliary bonding plate is provided with a bonding recess, the auxiliary bonding plate is used to nest and place the button glass, and the bonding recess is used to nest the protrusion of the button glass; Upper glass bonding mechanism; Lower glass bonding mechanism; One of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is used to install the auxiliary bonding plate, and the other is used to place the substrate glass; at least one of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is used to bond and assemble the substrate glass and the button glass.

2. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper glass bonding mechanism includes an upper vacuum adsorption plate, a flipping drive, and a first upper mounting base. The upper vacuum adsorption plate is rotatably connected to the first upper mounting base, and the flipping drive is driven to connect to the upper vacuum adsorption plate. The upper vacuum adsorption plate is used to adsorb the substrate glass.

3. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper glass bonding mechanism further includes a lifting drive component, a second upper mounting base, and a transverse drive assembly. The transverse drive assembly is tractively connected to the second upper mounting base. The first upper mounting base and the second upper mounting base are slidably connected in a lifting manner. The lifting drive component is tractively connected to the first upper mounting base.

4. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower glass bonding mechanism includes a lower placement plate and a position adjustment assembly. The lower placement plate is used to place the button glass, and the position adjustment assembly is connected to the lower placement plate.

5. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The position adjustment assembly includes front and rear slide rails, front and rear sliding seats, a sliding drive, a position adjustment rotating seat, and a rotation drive. The front and rear sliding seats are slidably connected to the front and rear slide rails, the sliding drive is throttle-connected to the front and rear sliding seats, the position adjustment rotating seat is rotatably connected to the front and rear sliding seats, the rotation drive is throttle-connected to the position adjustment rotating seat, and the lower placement plate is disposed on the position adjustment rotating seat.

6. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lower glass bonding mechanism further includes a pressing roller and a pressing moving assembly. The pressing moving assembly is tractively connected to the pressing roller, and the pressing roller is used to press the substrate glass and the button glass together.

7. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower glass bonding mechanism further includes a pressure regulating component, which includes a pressing mounting plate, a pressure regulating plate, a connecting rod, and a pressing mounting base. The pressing moving component is throttle-connected to the pressing mounting base. One end of the pressing mounting plate is connected to the pressing roller, and the other end of the pressing mounting plate is rotatably connected to the connecting rod. The pressure regulating plate and the connecting rod are both disposed on the pressing mounting base. The pressing mounting plate is provided with a plurality of first connecting rings, and the pressure regulating plate is provided with a plurality of second connecting rings. The first connecting rings are used to connect one end of the elastic element, and the second connecting rings are used to connect the other end of the elastic element. The elastic element is used to adjust the pressing force between the substrate glass and the button glass.

8. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pressure regulating assembly further includes a release slide, a release block, and a release drive. The release slide is disposed on the pressing mounting base, the release block is slidably connected to the release slide, the release drive is drively connected to the release block, and the connecting rod is disposed on the release block.

9. The button glass bonding machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pressing and moving assembly includes a pressing screw, a pressing nut, and a pressing and moving drive component. The pressing roller is connected to the pressing nut, the pressing screw is connected to the pressing nut, and the pressing and moving drive component is connected to the pressing screw.

10. A method for bonding button glass, using the button glass bonding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: One of the upper glass bonding mechanism and the lower glass bonding mechanism is used to install an auxiliary bonding plate, while the other is used to place the substrate glass. Place the button glass on the auxiliary bonding plate, and the bonding recess of the auxiliary bonding plate abuts against the protrusion of the button glass; The upper glass bonding mechanism and / or the lower glass bonding mechanism bond and assemble the substrate glass and the button glass.

Citation Information

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