Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Jack L Perecman

Lloyd S Vasilakes

Richard E Bennett

Gary K Kuhn

Van E Jensen, Jr

Daniel D Baker

Gary L Romberg

Kevin J Bangen

Methods and apparatus for applying a bonding layer to a member of an optical recording medium and for bonding together members of an optical recording medium. The methods and apparatus are useful for assembling optical recording media such as compact disks (CDs) and digital versatile disks (DVDs), and are particularly well suited for use with pressure sensitive adhesives. A preferred method of assembling together first and second members of an optical recording medium, wherein each of the members includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one of the inner surfaces includes a bonding layer thereon, and wherein at least one of the members includes a data storage surface, includes the steps of: a) curving the first member such that the first member inner surface is convex, wherein the first member inner surface includes an outer annulus, and wherein the outer annulus includes a first portion and a second portion; b) orienting the second member such that the second member inner surface faces the first member inner surface, wherein the second member inner surface includes an outer annulus, and wherein the outer annulus includes a first portion and a second portion; c) contacting the first portion of the first member outer annulus and the first portion of the second member outer annulus together under pressure; and d) rotating the first and second members relative to one another so as to progressively contact under pressure the first member inner surface and second member inner surface together from their respective outer annulus first portions to their respective outer annulus second portions to thereby attach together the inner surfaces of the first and second members. A similar method for applying the bonding layer to one member is disclosed. Also disclosed are apparatus for use with the above methods.

Method and apparatus for assembling an optical recording medium

A continuous tape supply apparatus is provided which includes plural tape sources from which tape can be supplied to the tape applicator machine, a tension control means for providing the tape from the continuous tape supply apparatus at a substantially even tension under an indexing demand, and a splicing mechanism which is simpler in design and operation and which reliably causes a changeover of tape from one source to another. Once one source is depleted, the apparatus automatically switches to the second source, after which, a new supply can be substituted for the depleted supply and the apparatus made ready for the next subsequent changeover. The splicing mechanism includes a tape guide path through the splicing mechanism, a staging means comprising an applicator element which is movably disposed on the support between a staging position with the applicator element spaced from the tape guide path and a splice position with the applicator element moved within the tape guide path to change the tape guide path, and control means for causing the applicator element to move between its staging position to its splice position and for effecting a proper splice. The present invention is also directed to the combination of a continuous tape supply apparatus with a box tape applying machine.

Continuous tape supply system including a tape splicing mechanism for

The object is applied to the glass surface by a platen assembly mounted inside the apparatus which resiliently urges the object against the glass surface. In one embodiment, the platen assembly is mounted on a resilient diaphragm within the apparatus and the application of a vacuum causes the diaphragm to move the platen assembly towards the object, thereby causing the platen assembly to urge the object against the glass surface. In a second embodiment, the platen assembly is mounted to the apparatus shell or housing and the apparatus is sealed against the glass surface by a resilient bellows. Upon application of a vacuum, the bellows compresses, thereby causing the platen assembly to urge the object against the glass surface.

Method and apparatus for adhering object to a glass surface

A tape applicator for use in applying lengths of tape transversely at spaced parallel positions to a continuously moving receptor web. The applicator applies the lengths of tape to the moving web from a polygonal vacuum head which is moved into contact with the web at web speed to transfer the tape to the web. The vacuum applicator is rotatable about an axis and supports the length of tape prior to transfer on a surface disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the web.

Tape applicator

A package of resealable polymeric bags is formed by stacking the bags formed with a flap having a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending beyond the flap such that the sealing flap of each successive bag is the mounting means for that bag in the package, and each bag is positioned with the open side exposed on the top of the stack to afford easy insertion of an article in the bag, removal of the bag from the stack, a folding and sealing of the flap.

Growing community of inventors

Golden Valley, MN, United States of America

Jack L Perecman