3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

John R David

Ronald S Steelman

Michael Alan Meis

Ellen O Aeling

Curtis L Larson

Conrad V Anderson

Norbert E Wrobel

Brett A Behnke

Jeffrey O Emslander

Frank Thomas Sher

Dee Lynn Johnson

Daniel P Pohl

Danny Leroy Fleming

Michael R Kesti

Eugene L Baratto

Anne M DePalma

Thomas L Nelson

Kenneth Francis Knoll

Gilles J Benoit

Joseph Andrew Hoffman

David James Yarusso

Graham M Clarke

James M Peck

Robert K Galkiewicz

Larry A Meixner

Joseph F Garvey

Raymond D Zachrison

Stephen J Aden

Graham Edward Thoms

An adhesive-applying method is disclosed herein. The method comprises: providing a film comprising pressure sensitive adhesive coated on a major surface thereof; heating the film to a softening point of the film; and pressing the film against a substrate with an application device, the application device comprising a film-contacting portion, the film-contacting portion comprising a foam material and having a thermal conductivity of less than 1.8 BTU in/(hr ft&#xb0; F.); wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive on the major surface of the film adheres to the substrate. Application devices and kits that may be used in conjunction with the method are also disclosed herein.

Method of applying adhesive coated film

The present disclosure is generally directed to illumination devices, and methods for making the same. The device, in particular, includes a first conductor layer, a first insulator layer disposed on the first conductor layer and having at least one first aperture defined therein through the first insulator layer, a second conductor layer disposed on the first insulator layer and having at least one second aperture defined therein through the second conductor layer and positioned to align with the at least one first aperture, and a light manipulation layer disposed on the second conductor layer and having at least one pair of apertures defined therein through the light manipulation layer including a third aperture and a fourth aperture, where the third aperture is positioned to align with the at least one second and first apertures.

Illumination devices and methods for making the same

An adhesive-applying method is disclosed herein. The method comprises: providing a film comprising pressure sensitive adhesive coated on a major surface thereof; heating the film to a softening point of the film; and pressing the film against a substrate with an application device, the application device comprising a film-contacting portion, the film-contacting portion comprising a foam material and having a thermal conductivity of less than 1.8 BTU in /(hr ft&#xb0;F.); wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive on the major surface of the film adheres to the substrate. Application devices and kits that may be used in conjunction with the method are also disclosed herein.

An adhesive-applying method is disclosed herein. The method comprises: providing a film comprising pressure sensitive adhesive coated on a major surface thereof; heating the film to a softening point of the film; and pressing the film against a substrate with an application device, the application device comprising a film-contacting portion, the film-contacting portion comprising a foam material and having a thermal conductivity of less than 1.8 BTU/hr-in-ft-&#xb0; F.; wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive on the major surface of the film adheres to the substrate. Application devices and kits that may be used in conjunction with the method are also disclosed herein.

A lighting element that includes a hollow enclosure, an optical lighting film, reflective interior surfaces, and a partially collimating light source is described. The lighting element can be used as a light block for illuminating light boxes, sign boxes, or luminaries. The lighting element can be rectangular in shape, thin, bright, uniform, energy efficient and lightweight, and can be configured to emit light from one or opposing surfaces. Additional light management elements, such as diffusing films, graphic films and information displays, can be positioned adjacent to the output surface(s) of the lighting element for a variety of applications. Several lighting elements can be tiled together to light larger areas and larger signs.

Light block

The present application is related to substrates having light transmitting areas and light shielding areas. The application discloses methods of manufacturing the substrates, including modifying a light shielding layer be contact to a structured surface.

Methods of manufacturing substrates

An LED backlight assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of internal surfaces. At least one of the internal surfaces is a light emission surface and an opposing surface is a reflective surface. An optical film is disposed between the light emission surface and the reflective surface. The optical film includes at least one of a diffusing film, a reflective polarizing film, a multilayer optical film, and a structured surface film. An array of LEDs in electrical communication is disposed on the optical film. At least one LED of the array of LEDs has an illumination field that is directed toward the reflective surface.

LED backlight

The present invention provides adhesive film removal methods and apparatus. The removal methods and apparatus involve apply 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 methods and apparatus are particularly useful in removing large-scale graphic films from substrates such as truck trailers, vans, walls, signs and other large surfaces. The tension applied to the adhesive film during removal is preferably uniform across the width of the film, thereby reducing the risk of the film tearing or breaking during removal. The release line is advanced during removal along the length of the film until the entire film is removed from the substrate.

Adhesive film removal method and apparatus

Methods of applying film to substrates are provided wherein the film matingly conforms to the configuration of the substrate, including areas adjacent protrusions or depressions in the substrate. In certain embodiments, the film is punctured by a probe and a vacuum is applied to the probe in order to aspirate air and urge the film toward a position of compliance with the substrate. Optionally, the film is softened by heat in order to facilitate conformance with the shape of the substrate.

Method of conforming a film to a surface

Films are closely conformed to substrates by reducing the air pressure to a subatmospheric level in at least one airflow pathway that is present in the film or the substrate. The reduced air pressure enables the film to tightly contact the substrate in locations where protrusions or depressions on the substrate are present. The method is particularly useful for conforming film containing graphics to a variety of substrates such as the sides of semi-trailers or concrete block walls, even in instances where the semi-trailer sides include rivets and/or grooves and where the concrete block wall is relatively rough.

Method of conforming an adherent film to a substrate by application of vacuum

Methods of forming composite graphic images on a substrate using a plurality of films that are applied and registered with each other under tension are disclosed. The films may include registration marks distributed along their lengths and those registration marks can be used to vary the tension under which the films are dispensed during application to a substrate. By detecting the registration marks on a film already applied to a substrate and detecting corresponding registration marks on a film being dispensed and applied to the substrate, registration between the different portions of the composite image on the different films can be maintained over the length of the films and, therefore, the length of the resulting composite image. That registration is controlled by varying tension of the film being applied.

Graphic image film registration systems and methods

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.

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

John R David