Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for bonding a laminate formed of at least two layers of sheet material superimposed on one another with adhesive therebetween and moved along a path. The apparatus includes a first laminator having an upper plate assembly having a first low-friction laminate-contacting surface for contacting a first layer of the laminate, and an upper heat exchanger thermally coupled to the upper plate assembly. The first laminator also includes a lower plate assembly having a second low-friction laminate-contacting surface for contacting a second layer of the laminate, wherein the first and second laminate-contacting surfaces are disposed in opposed relationship for accommodating passage of the layers of the laminate therebetween, and a lower heat exchanger thermally coupled to the lower plate assembly. The first laminator further includes a drive member coupled to at least one of the laminate-contacting surfaces for varying the distance between the surfaces to apply pressure to the layers of the laminate. The apparatus may also include a second laminator downstream of the first laminator and substantially identical to the first laminator. The heat exchangers of the first and second laminators can both be used for heating or cooling, or one for cooling and one for heating, depending upon the application.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim