System for assembling optical films for displays

A system for assembling a display backlight unit, comprising:

• a source of backlight layers;
• computer-controlled equipment that assembles the backlight layers from the source to form the backlight unit, wherein the computer-controlled equipment includes at least one robotic arm;
• a controller that controls the equipment, wherein the controller directs the at least one robotic arm to separate a first backlight layer of the backlight layers from a second backlight layer of the backlight layers;
• and
• deionized air sources controlled by the controller that blow streams of deionized air between the first and second backlight layers while the at least one robotic arm separates the first and second backlight layers.

A method of assembling backlight layers to form a backlight unit, comprising:

• using at least one robotic arm to move backlight layers from a source of the backlight layers into a central opening of a temporary storage frame, wherein the backlight layers comprise layers selected from the group consisting of:
• a reflector layer, a light guide plate, a diffuser layer, and a prism film layer;
• separating the backlight layers from each other by blowing air between the backlight layers with a computer-controlled air source;
• and
• using the at least one robotic arm to place the backlight layers in a support structure.