Method and apparatus for assembling a component with a flexible foil, as well as the assembled product

Abstract

Method and apparatus for assembling a component with a flexible foil, as well as assembled product A method is provided for assembling a component () with a flexible foil (). The method comprising the steps of —providing (SI) a flexible foil () having a first side () with at least one liquid confinement zone () and at least one liquid confinement subzone () enclosed by the liquid confinement zone, —depositing (S) an alignment liquid () in the at least one liquid confinement subzone (), —moving (S) the component () towards the liquid confinement zone, and bringing (S) a surface () of the component facing the flexible foil into contact with the alignment liquid in the at least one liquid confinement subzone and releasing (S) the component (). The step of moving (S) the component () towards the flexible foil, and the step of bringing (S) a surface () of the component facing the flexible foil into contact with the alignment liquid, is realized with a gripping tool () that includes one or more capillary tubes () ending in a downward facing opening (). At least a portion of the capillary tubes that ends in the downward facing opening () is filled with a carrier liquid (). A first, adhesive force (Fa) exerted by the carrier liquid on the component is larger than a second force (Fg), that is exerted by gravity on the component and wherein said first adhesive force (Fa) is smaller than the sum (Fg+Fa) of said second force (Fg) and a third, adhesive force (Fa) exerted by the alignment liquid on the component when the component comes into contact with the alignment liquid. The alignment liquid () in contact with the component () exerts adhesive forces on the component that align the released component with the flexible foil.