Wasteless type lamination system

A wasteless type lamination system comprising:

• a first transfer means for transferring along a first transfer path a continuous laminate film with a heat adhesive layer on a surface and drawn out from a supply roll;
• a cutting means for cutting said continuous laminate film in a predetermined length, provided beside said first transfer path at the downstream of said first transfer means;
• a second transfer means for further transferring along said first transfer path a cut laminate film in said predetermined length;
• a film detection means for detecting a leading edge of said continuous laminate film provided adjacent said first transfer path at a position downstream of said cutting means, said film detection means including a sensor which generates a signal when said leading edge of said continuous laminate film is detected;
• a card transfer means for transferring a card along a second transfer path that converges with said first transfer path at a point of convergence;
• and
• a thermocompression bonding means for laminating said cut laminate film, laid on a surface of said card transferred, to said card, provided at the downstream of said point of convergence,
• wherein a leading edge of said continuous laminate film is moved backward, in the direction upstream of said cutting means, by a predetermined distance, by said first transfer means before or after cutting action of said cutting means, and
• means to move said continuous laminate film in a forward direction or, alternatively, in a rearward direction, said means adapted to releasably engage one or more of said first or second transfer means whereby said first transfer means may be caused to move said laminate film either forward or backward along said first transfer path, said leading edge of said continuous laminate film when moved backward being moved by a distance estimated to correspond to slack formed in said continuous film laminate subsequent to being cut by said cutting means to said predetermined length, and said second transfer means may be caused to move said cut laminate film forward along said transfer path, so as to remove any laminate film from said cutting means.