Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Ryan N Klaassen

James D Sampica

Paul R Nemeth

Cameron T McCalley

Kyle P Dotson

Brad J Covington

Cameron T Mccalley

A laminating machine and process for applying an optically clear adhesive film to a glass substrate includes a porous belt assembly with a plurality of vacuum pumps. The vacuum pumps define different, separately adjustable vacuum zones on the surface of the porous belt. The porous belt is driven linearly so that an optically clear adhesive does not move relative to the porous belt, but does move relative to the table, allowing the adhesive to be controlled to a compressive, neutral, or tensile state while being nip-rolled to the substrate. Since there is no motion of the film relative to the belt, scratching, stretch elongation, dimensional errors, and other slip induced damage is eliminated.

Flexible to rigid integrated laminator

A high-speed lamination machine includes a hinged, clamshell lid, and clamped lamination chamber that uses localized and thermally isolated heating and stepper driven separation pin motion. Pneumatically actuated rollers in a track clamp the lamination chamber closed during operation. The clamshell design obviates the need for a hydraulic press and makes the lamination chamber easily accessible to other automated systems, so robots may be used to place lamination elements within the chamber.

Clam shell lamination system

A laminating machine includes UV curing elements within the process chamber to cure a UV curable adhesive in a laminating stack while being heated in an autoclave. In an automated process, the laminating machine applies pressure to the stack for pressure sensitive adhesion, then autoclave heating and simultaneous UV curing. The UV curing elements are disposed in the body of the process chamber, the lid of the process chamber, or a separate appliance. The appliance can be releasably attached to the process chamber body or lid. The laminating machine is programmed for specific autoclave and UV exposure profiles specific to the UV curable adhesives being used.

LED curing during vacuum lamination process

A method of making a display assembly includes providing a display, providing a cover glass, ink jetting an ink covering onto a perimeter portion of the cover glass, and assembling the display to the cover glass to form the display assembly. The ink covering prevents light from leaking from the display through the perimeter portion of the cover glass.

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Marion, IA, United States of America

Ryan N Klaassen