Multifunctional thermo-vacuum-air pressurized forming machine
AssigneeFlextronics AP, LLC
InventorsSpring Wu, Banghong Hu, Oliver Ren, Charles Raymon Hill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods of applying a decorating film to a substrate that reduce the occurrence of wrinkling of the decorating film during application of the film to the substrate and ensure a more uniform transfer of a pattern or image on the decorating film to the substrate. The same systems and methods can be used to apply a decorating film that laminates to a substrate. Systems of and methods for cooling a decorating chamber and removing the used decorating film from the substrate after a transfer of an image or pattern from the decorating film to the substrate.
Claims19
A method of applying a decorating film to a substrate in a chamber containing the substrate and the decorating film, the decorating film defining a first sub-chamber and a second-sub-chamber within the chamber each coupled to a vacuum source, the chamber comprising a heating source, the method comprising the steps:
- a. heating the chamber to a first temperature;
- b. applying a vacuum to both the first and second sub-chambers;
- c. stopping the vacuum to the first sub-chamber;
- and
- d. applying a compressed air source to the first sub-chamber.
A system for applying a decorating film to a substrate comprising:
- a. a chamber configured to receive a substrate and a decorating film, the decorating film defining a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber within the chamber;
- b. a vacuum source coupled to each of the first and the second sub-chamber;
- c. a compressed air source coupled to at least the first sub-chamber;
- and
- d. a heating source coupled to the chamber.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising processor executable instructions that, when executed, implement the method steps, practiced upon a chamber comprising a heating source and a compressed air source:
- a. heating the chamber containing a substrate and a decorating film, wherein the decorating film defines a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber within the chamber, each sub-chamber is coupled to a vacuum source;
- b. applying a vacuum to both the first and the second sub-chambers;
- c. stopping the vacuum to the first sub-chamber;
- and
- d. applying compressed air to the first sub-chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.