Vacuum laminator
AssigneeNPP Packaging Graphics Specialists, Inc.
InventorCharles E. Fishburn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for vacuum laminating an article to a substrate. The apparatus comprises a movable assembly engaged with a support surface for the substrate and movable relative thereto. The movable assembly comprises a manifold for receiving vacuum force from a source of vacuum, and a fin member for translating the vacuum force across substantially a width of the printing plate. A holder for the article is positioned such that an end of said article to be laminated is engageable with the support surface. A moving device is provided for passing the movable assembly and the article over the printing plate as the vacuum force is translated across the printing plate, such that the article is laminated to the printing plate without substantial air entrapment.
Claims22
An apparatus for laminating an article to a printing plate, the printing plate being positioned on a support surface, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a movable assembly engaged with said support surface and movable relative thereto, said movable assembly comprising a manifold member for receiving vacuum force from a source of vacuum, and a fin member for translating said vacuum force across substantially a width of the printing plate;
- a holder for holding said article, said holder being positioned such that an end of said article is engageable with said printing plate;
- and
- a moving device for passing said movable assembly and said article over said printing plate as said vacuum force is translated across said printing plate, such that said article is laminated to said printing plate without substantial air entrapment.
An apparatus for laminating an article to a printing plate, comprising:
- a movable assembly engaged with a support surface and movable relative thereto, said movable assembly comprising a housing, a holder associated with the housing for holding the article, a manifold for receiving vacuum force from a source of vacuum, and a fin member having a leading end for translating the vacuum force across a width of the printing plate;
- the fin member leading end, the article to be laminated and the printing plate being oriented such that a nip is formed therebetween when the vacuum source is activated, and the printing plate is raised from the support surface at the nip substantially to the level of the fin member leading end;
- and
- a moving device for passing said movable assembly over the printing plate as the vacuum force is translated across the width of said printing plate, such that said article is laminated to said printing plate without substantial air entrapment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.