Laminating roller, laminating device and method for laminating display apparatus

Abstract

A laminating roller, a laminating device, and a method for laminating a display apparatus are provided. A laminating device includes a stage on which a display module including a folding area foldable about a folding axis and at least one non-folding area, which is not folded, is configured to be seated; a pressing part over the stage to overlap the non-folding area and having a diameter; and a connection part over the stage to overlap the folding area and connected to the pressing part, and the connection part has a diameter less than that of the pressing part and extends in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laminating device comprising:
 a stage on which a display module including a folding area foldable about a folding axis and at least one non-folding area, which is not folded, is configured to be seated;   a pressing part over the stage to overlap the non-folding area and having a diameter; and   a connection part over the stage to overlap the folding area and connected to the pressing part,   wherein the connection part has a diameter less than that of the pressing part and extends in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis.   
     
     
         2 . The laminating device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressing part comprises:
 a first pressing part to overlap a first non-folding area of the non-folding area; and   a second pressing part to overlap a second non-folding area of the non-folding area,   wherein the connection part connects the first pressing part to the second pressing part.   
     
     
         3 . The laminating device of  claim 2 , wherein the connection part comprises:
 a first connection part connected to the first pressing part;   a second connection part connected to the second pressing part; and   a central part between the first connection part and the second connection part to connect the first connection part to the second connection part and having a diameter less than a mean diameter of each of the first connection part and the second connection part.   
     
     
         4 . The laminating device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first connection part and the second connection part has a diameter that gradually decreases in a direction that is adjacent to the central part. 
     
     
         5 . The laminating device of  claim 3 , wherein the central part has a predetermined diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The laminating device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first pressing part, the second pressing part, and the connection part comprises:
 a core part extending in the direction perpendicular to the folding axis and having a first modulus; and   a first cover part configured to surround an outer surface of the core part and having a second modulus less than the first modulus.   
     
     
         7 . The laminating device of  claim 6 , wherein the core part comprises a metal. 
     
     
         8 . The laminating device of  claim 6 , wherein the first cover part comprises urethane. 
     
     
         9 . The laminating device of  claim 6 , wherein at the connection part, at least a part of the core part is exposed by the first cover part. 
     
     
         10 . The laminating device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first pressing part, the second pressing part, and the connection part further comprises a second cover part having a thickness and surrounding an outer surface of the first cover part. 
     
     
         11 . The laminating device of  claim 10 , wherein the second cover part comprises rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The laminating device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first pressing part, the second pressing part, and the connection part comprises a core part extending in the direction perpendicular to the folding axis and having a first modulus, and
 each of the first pressing part and the second pressing part further comprises a first cover part configured to surround an outer surface of the core part and having a second modulus less than the first modulus.   
     
     
         13 . A method for laminating a display apparatus, the method comprising:
 seating a plurality of plates on a seating area defined on a stage;   seating a first adhesion member on the plates;   seating a display module foldable about a folding axis on the first adhesion member; and   pressing the display module to laminate the plates with the display module,   wherein the seating area comprises:   first and second areas defined on the stage to be spaced apart from each other and overlap with non-folding areas of the display module; and   a third area defined between the first and second areas on the stage to overlap with a folding area of the display module and comprising a spaced area,   wherein, in the seating of the plurality of plates, the plates are spaced apart from each other over the spaced area, and the folding axis overlaps the spaced area on a plane, and   in the laminating of the plates with the display module, a pressing force applied to the third area is less than that applied to each of the first and second areas.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, in the laminating of the plates with the display module, the display module is pressed by using a laminating roller, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis on the plane and rotates to move in a direction parallel to the folding axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the laminating roller comprises:
 first and second pressing parts overlapping the first and second areas to press the non-folding areas of the display module; and   a connection part connecting the first and second pressing parts to each other and overlapping at least the third area to press the folding area of the display module,   wherein the connection part has a diameter less than that of each of the pressing parts.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the connection part comprises:
 a first connection part connected to the first pressing part;   a second connection part connected to the second pressing part; and   a central part connecting the first connection part to the second connection part and pressing the folding area of the display module overlapping the spaced area,   wherein the central part has a diameter that is equal to or less than a mean diameter of each of the first connection part and the second connection part.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the laminating roller has an outer circumferential surface that has a modulus less than that of the central part. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the laminating roller comprises:
 first and second pressing parts overlapping the first and second areas to press the non-folding areas of the display module; and   a connection part connecting the first and second pressing parts to each other and overlapping at least the third area to press the folding area of the display module,   wherein each of the first and second pressing parts has a modulus greater than that of the connection part.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the display module comprises a display panel comprising a plurality of display elements to display an image. 
     
     
         20 . A laminating roller comprising:
 a connection part configured to press a folding area of a display module that is foldable about a folding axis; and   first and second pressing parts configured to press non-folding areas of the display module supported by plates spaced apart from each other and are connected to each other by the connection part and each of which has a diameter greater than that of the connection part,   wherein the connection part, the first pressing part, and the second pressing part are integrated with each other and extend in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis.