Apparatus and methods for assembling depth image systems
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsStephen J. Hassall, Daniel R. May, Martin E. Oehlbeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sheet (12) is coated with a radiation-curable adhesive (48) at a coating station and then laminated to a lenticular array sheet (20) at a laminating station (50). A lamination of the image and array sheets is then positioned on an aligning station (56) where the lenticules of the array sheet are aligned with the image lines (16) of the image sheet. The adhesive is set at a curing station (60).
Claims17
Apparatus for aligning a depth image system of the type including an image sheet bearing a lineiform image;
- a lenticular array sheet, the array sheet having lenticules parallel to the lineiform image and the array sheet having at least one edge extending laterally beyond at least one edge of the image sheet;
- and a layer of uncured but radiation-curable adhesive between the image and array sheets, the apparatus comprising:
- a vacuum platen for supporting the image sheet with the array sheet laminated thereto by the layer of uncured adhesive, the platen having a first surface with a pattern of openings, the pattern having a geometry such that the at least one edge of the image sheet extends beyond the pattern when the image sheet is supported on the vacuum platen;
- means for applying vacuum through the pattern to hold the image sheet on the first surface;
- means for gripping the at least one edge of the array sheet and, while gripping the at least one edge, for translating and/or rotating the array sheet on the layer of uncured adhesive and relative to the image sheet to align the lenticular array with the lineiform image;
- and
- means for curing the adhesive following alignment of the array and image.
A method for aligning a depth image system of the type including an image sheet bearing a lineiform image;
- a lenticular array sheet, the array sheet having lenticules parallel to the lineiform image and the array sheet having at least one edge extending laterally beyond at least one edge of the image sheet;
- and a layer of uncured but radiation-curable adhesive between the image and array sheets, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a vacuum platen for supporting the image sheet, the platen having a first surface with a pattern of openings;
- placing the image sheet on the vacuum platen with the array sheet laminated thereto by the layer of uncured adhesive and with the at least one edge of the image sheet extended beyond the pattern;
- applying vacuum through the pattern to hold the image sheet on the vacuum platen;
- gripping the at least one edge of the array sheet and translating and/or rotating the array sheet on the layer of uncured adhesive and relative to the image sheet to align the lenticular array with the lineiform image;
- and
- curing the adhesive following alignment of the array and image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.