Film lamination and removal system and methods of use
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsRonald S. Steelman, John R. David
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vacuum-assisted film laminating and removal systems and methods of using the same. The systems include a vacuum-assisted laminator for applying large format films to substrates where lamination pressure is generated at least partially by a vacuum drawn in a vacuum cavity. The removal apparatus applies tension over the width of the adhesive film, thereby removing the film from the substrate along the release line that extends over the width of the film. The systems and methods can be used to apply and remove large-scale adhesive films from substrates.
Claims33
A film lamination and removal system comprising:
- a laminator comprising spaced-apart first and second laminating rolls mounted parallel to each other, a seal mechanism extending between the first and second rolls, wherein the seal mechanism forms a seal with each of the first and second rolls, a vacuum cavity formed between the seal mechanism and the first and second rolls, and a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum cavity;
- and
- removal apparatus operatively coupled to the laminator, the removal apparatus comprising a winding roll attached to a frame, and a motor operably connected to the winding roll for rotating the winding roll about its longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.