US 4,025,380 AGranted

Variable resist laminator

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorEdward Thomas Bernardo

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Abstract

The variable resist laminator receives a heated panel between two identical vacuum bails and the leading edge of a web of photoresist material is placed on opposite sides of the panel simultaneously prior to feeding the panel and attached webs between a pair of application rolls. Identical cutter mechanisms shear the webs into sheets of the desired length and the length may be varied for different length panels. Vacuum means are provided for maintaining control of the trailing edges of the cut sheets until they are applied to the panel to prevent the formation of wrinkles or other defects due to premature application. Vacuum means is also provided for removing flakes or debris as the webs are sheared. A gated conveyor system feeds the panels and the conveyor system has means for controlling the operation of the vacuum bails, the cutters, and the application rolls.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A laminator for applying at least one sheet of material cut from a supply web to one side of a panel which comprises;

a vacuum bail for holding the leading portion of a supply web of material;
first feed means for feeding a panel and stopping it in a position opposite said vacuum bail;
means for operating said vacuum bail toward and away from said panel to press seal the leading edge of the web to one side of the panel;
rotating apply roll means;
means for operating said first feed means to feed the panel with the edge of the web attached past said apply roll means to press seal an additional length of the web to one side of the panel as said panel pulls the web;
second feed means for feeding the panel from said apply roll means and first feed means;
means for stopping said second feed means and the rotation of said apply roll means and the panel to stop the press sealing of said additional length of web;
a rotatable cutter blade mechanism movable across the width of the web;
means responsive to the stopping of said second feed means and apply roll means for operating said cutter mechanism to shear a length of material from the web;
and
means responsive at the completion of said shearing operation to restart operation of said second feed means and said apply roll means to complete press sealing of the cut length of web material to the panel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.