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US 2009/0288760 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for peeling a flexible sheet from a substrate
AssigneeKodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
InventorIan Garben
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described for removing donor sheets from substrates. A take-up roller contacts the donor element at or near an edge thereof and a peel roller contacts the donor element at a location spaced apart from the edge. A securing mechanism secures the edge of the donor element to the take-up roller which is then moved away from the substrate. While maintaining the peel roller in contact with the donor element, the take-up roller is rotated to take up the donor element while the peel roller and take-up roller are both simultaneously moved in a direction tangential to the substrate. In this manner, the donor element is peeled from the surface of the substrate.
Claims64
A method for removing a donor element from a substrate, the method comprising:
- effecting relative movement between a peel roller and the substrate so as to move the peel roller into a vicinity of a first portion of the donor element, the first portion spaced-apart from an edge of the donor element;
- effecting relative movement between a take-up roller and the substrate so as to move the take-up roller into a vicinity of the edge of the donor element and, when the take-up roller is in the vicinity of the edge, securing a second portion of the donor element including the edge to the take-up roller;
- and while maintaining the peel roller in the vicinity of the first portion:
- effecting relative movement between the take-up roller and the substrate so as to move the take-up roller and the second portion of the donor element secured thereto in a direction away from the substrate;
- and
- rotating the take-up roller about its axis while effecting relative movement between the substrate and the peel roller in a direction tangential to the substrate to peel at least a substantial portion of the donor element from the substrate.
3 more elements
An apparatus for removing a donor element from a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
- a peel roller;
- a take-up roller comprising a securing mechanism for securing a first portion of the donor element, which includes an edge of the donor element, to the take-up roller;
- a chassis for supporting the peel roller and the take-up roller, such that the peel roller is rotatable relative to the chassis and the take-up roller is both moveable and rotatable relative to the chassis;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- effect relative movement between the chassis and the substrate so as to move the chassis to a position where the peel roller is in a vicinity of a second portion of the donor element, the second portion spaced-apart from the edge of the donor element;
- effect relative movement between the take up roller and the substrate so as to move the take-up roller into a vicinity of the first portion of the donor element and, when the take-up roller is in the vicinity of the first portion, activate the securing mechanism to secure the first portion to the take-up roller;
- and
- while maintaining the peel roller in the vicinity of the second portion of the donor element:
- effect relative movement between the take-up roller and the substrate so as to move the take-up roller and the first portion of the donor element secured thereto in a direction away from the substrate;
- and rotate the take-up roller about its axis while effecting relative movement between the substrate and the peel roller in a direction tangential to the substrate to peel at least a substantial portion of the donor element from the substrate.
8 more elements
A method for removing a donor element from a substrate, the method comprising:
- moving a peel roller into contact with a first portion of the donor element, the first portion spaced-apart from an edge of the donor element;
- securing a second portion of the donor element in a securing mechanism, the second portion of the donor element comprising the edge of the donor element;
- exerting a desired tension on the second portion of the donor element at a desired peel angle relative to a plane tangential to the substrate;
- moving the securing mechanism and the peel roller to peel at least a portion of the donor element from the substrate while maintaining the peel roller in contact with the second portion of the donor element, tracking the desired tension and tracking the desired peel angle.
1 more element
An apparatus for removing a donor element from a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
- a peel roller;
- a securing mechanism for securing a first portion of the donor element, the first portion including an edge of the donor element;
- a moveable chassis for supporting the peel roller and the securing mechanism, such that the peel roller is rotatable relative to the chassis and the take-up roller is moveable relative to the chassis;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- move the chassis to a position where the peel roller contacts a second portion of the donor element, the second portion of the donor element spaced-apart from the edge of the donor element;
- move the securing mechanism into a position wherein the securing mechanism can secure the first portion of the donor element and then move the securing mechanism and the first portion of the donor element secured thereto to establish a desired tension on the first portion of the donor element at a desired peel angle relative to a plane tangential to the substrate;
- and
- move the securing mechanism and the peel roller to peel the donor element from the substrate while maintaining the peel roller in contact with the first portion of the donor element, tracking the desired tension and tracking the desired peel angle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.