Method of applying polarized film to liquid crystal display cells

A method for applying a portion of polarized film to a surface of a liquid crystal display cell including the steps of:

• providing a punch with a hollow open end having a perimeter of a predetermined shape with a cutting edge, and a die having an opening of said predetermined shape aligned with and spaced apart from said cutting edge;
• moving a sheet of polarized film between said cutting edge of said punch and said opening of said die with said film having an adhesive surface facing said die;
• moving said cutting edge through said sheet of polarized film into said opening of said die to cut said portion of polarized film from said sheet;
• providing a piston, that substantially fills said hollow open end of said punch and that has a flexible convex shaped tip with a hole running thereto for holding said portion of film on said tip by application of a vacuum to said hole;
• holding said liquid crystal cell with said surface lying directly beneath said held portion of polarized film;
• moving said piston toward said liquid crystal cell while simultaneously holding still the perimeter of said portion of film to thereby deflect the center of said portion of film against said liquid crystal cell;
• and
• pressing said flexible tip against said deflected portion of film to force said portion against said surface with a rolling motion away from said center thereby eliminating the trapping of air bubbles between said portion of film and said surface.