Thermoforming method and thermoforming apparatus
AssigneeSamsung Display Co., Ltd.
InventorsSungwoo Eo, Hunkyo Kim, Byoungyul Shim, Jusuk Oh
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Abstract
Provided is a method of thermoforming a molding material to have a bent portion and a flat portion extending from the bent portion. The method includes: placing the molding material on a bending mold, the bending mold having a curved surface; and forming the bent portion of the molding material by heating a portion of the molding material at least to a fluidization temperature such that the portion of the molding material bends due to the weight of the flat portion of the molding material to form the bent portion according to a shape of the bending mold.
Claims5
An apparatus for thermoforming a molding material to have a bent portion and a flat portion extending from bent portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a base stage comprising a sliding surface;
- a bending mold on the base stage, and having a curved upper surface;
- a temperature controller configured to heat the molding material such that the bent portion is fluidized;
- a weight coupled to the flat portion;
- and
- a magnet beneath the sliding surface and arranged along a rotation path of the flat portion,
- wherein the fluidized bent portion is configured to be bent due to the weight,
- wherein when the bent portion bends, the weight slides along the sliding surface, and
- wherein the weight comprises a magnetic material, and the magnet is configured to apply a force to the weight in a direction away from a center of the bent portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.