Laminating apparatus

A laminating apparatus for a provisionally laminated body including a substrate having front and back surfaces at least one of which has an uneven surface comprising protruding and recessed portions, and one of a first resin film and a second resin film attached to the uneven surface of the substrate, the second resin film including a support film, the laminating apparatus being configured to form an end laminated body including one of the first resin film and the second resin film conforming to the protruding and recessed portions of the substrate, the laminating apparatus comprising:

• a first laminating mechanism including:
• a first enclosed space forming receiver capable of receiving the provisionally laminated body therein;
• a depressurizer capable of placing a space between one of the first resin film and the second resin film and the substrate of the provisionally laminated body under a negative pressure in a first enclosed space formed by the first enclosed space forming receiver;
• a heater configured to heat the one of the first resin film and the second resin film of the provisionally laminated body to provide a heated and softened one of the first resin film and the second resin film;
• and
• a first pressure laminator for bringing a peripheral portion of the heated and softened one of the first resin film and the second resin film of the provisionally laminated body into intimate contact with the substrate and configured to form an intermediate laminated body having a depressurized enclosed space between the one of the first resin film and the second resin film and the substrate thereof, and
• a second laminating mechanism including:
• a second enclosed space forming receiver configured for receiving the intermediate laminated body therein;
• and
• a second pressure laminator, which is configured for applying pressure to a second enclosed space formed by the second enclosed space forming receiver and to form the end laminated body in a non-contacting manner, in which the second pressure laminator is in a non-contacting relationship with the one of the first resin film and the second resin film, by creating air pressure difference between the second enclosed space and the depressurized enclosed space formed in the intermediate laminated body,
• wherein the second pressure laminator further includes a controller for controlling the applying of the pressure.