Elastic Back Plate Clamping for OLED Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional back plate clamping devices for OLED displays suffer from loose fixations leading to uneven pressure, which can damage the thin LTPS back plate during vacuum evaporation, resulting in fragment formation and reduced production capacity.
Innovation Solution
A back plate clamping device with a framework, upper and lower clamping plates, and elastic support structures that distribute pressure evenly by compressing springs to prevent overpressure, ensuring uniform stress and preventing fragment formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional back plate clamping units are fixed by bolts, then the clamping device can be assembled and used, but after long time use the fixations become loose causing uneven pressure that damages the back plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastic support structures (springs) between the support plates and the stand to provide beforehand cushioning. These elastic elements compensate for fixation loosening by maintaining consistent contact pressure, preventing the uneven pressure that would otherwise damage the thin back plate during prolonged use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the support structure from rigid (bolt-fixed) to elastic (spring-supported). This parameter change allows the system to adapt to fixation loosening by deforming elastically, thereby maintaining uniform pressure distribution on the back plate throughout the equipment's operational life.
2Ease of operation
If multiple independent back plate clamping units are used, then the back plate can be clamped, but the independent units can offset due to different bolt tightness causing partial overpressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by making all support plates have identical structures and by introducing identical elastic support structures (springs) to each support plate. This ensures uniform pressure distribution across all clamping points, preventing localized overpressures that would occur with independent rigid units having different bolt tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic support structures provide beforehand cushioning that compensates for variations in bolt tightness. When bolts loosen or have different initial tightness, the springs deform to maintain consistent contact pressure, ensuring homogeneous pressure distribution across all support plates.
3Force
If the back plate is clamped with increased pressure to ensure secure clamping, then the clamping is firm, but the thin LTPS back plate breaks into fragments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical property of the support system from rigid to elastic by introducing spring support structures. This allows the system to provide sufficient clamping force while automatically adjusting to prevent excessive localized pressure, thereby securing the back plate without causing fragmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic support structures provide beforehand cushioning that prevents overpressure. The springs deform under load to maintain optimal contact pressure, cushioning against any excessive force that would otherwise transmit directly to the thin back plate and cause it to break into fragments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents damage to the back plate by distributing pressure evenly, reducing the likelihood of fragment formation and enhancing production capacity by ensuring consistent clamping without damaging the LTPS back plate.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic support structures (24) that are provided in an one-to-one correspondence with the support plates (22), wherein each of the elastic support structures (24) is positioned between a corresponding one of the support plates (22) and the stand (21) and is connected to the corresponding one of the support plates (22) and the stand (21)
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of display technology and disclose a back plate clamping device, an alignment device and an evaporation equipment. In one embodiment, a back plate clamping device includes a framework, an upper clamping plate mounted to the framework, and a lower clamping plate assembly. The lower clamping plate assembly includes a stand, a plurality of support plates and a plurality of elastic support structures that are provided in an one-to-one correspondence with the support plates. A surface of each support plate facing away from the corresponding elastic support structure is formed with a supporting face, and, each support plate is mounted to the stand and is movable in a direction perpendicular to a plane where the supporting face is located. And, the stand is mounted to the framework and is movable in the direction perpendicular to the plane.