SEPARATION OF LAMINATED SHEETS

• US 20120318463A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delam Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Delam Holdings Party Limited
• Inventors: Anderson, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/582,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20120318463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/712
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1858 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 43/006 Delaminating
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/0075 Cleaning of glass specially adapted to plate glass B08B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1153 Temperature change for delamination [e.g., heating during delaminating, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1158 Electromagnetic radiation applied to work for delamination [e.g., microwave, uv, ir, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1911 Heating or cooling delaminating means [e.g., melting means, freezing means, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1917 Electromagnetic radiation delaminating means [e.g., microwave, uv, ir, etc.]

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of separating laminated sheets comprising first and second sheets which are bonded by an adhesive interlayer, the method comprising heating the interlayer to soften it and causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart when the interlayer is softened.

Claims

1. A method of separating laminated sheets comprising first and second sheets which are bonded by an adhesive interlayer, the method comprising heating the interlayer to soften it and causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart when the interlayer is softened.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart comprises effecting movement of one of the first and second sheets relative to the other along a plane defined by the interlayer, thereby causing shearing in the interlayer.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart comprises effecting movement of one of the first and second sheets relative to the other in a direction transverse to a plane defined by the interlayer.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart comprises effecting movement of one of the first and second sheets relative to the other along a plane defined by the interlayer, thereby causing shearing in the interlayer, and further comprising effecting movement along said plane simultaneous with the movement transverse to said plane.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising applying loads through opposed outer surfaces of the laminate to draw the first and second sheets apart.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising applying radiation through at least one sheet of the laminate to effect heating of the adhesive interlayer.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising outputting the radiation at a frequency at which it is generally transmittable through the sheet material and generally absorbable by the interlayer.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

removing the adhesive from the previously bonded sheets.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is removed when softened.

5. A method according to claim 34, wherein causing the first and second sheets to be forced apart comprises effecting movement of one of the first and second sheets relative to the other along a plane defined by the interlayer, thereby causing shearing in the interlayer, and wherein the movement along the plane is initiated before the movement transverse to the plane.

11. An apparatus for separating laminated sheets comprising first and second sheets which are bonded by an adhesive interlayer, the apparatus comprising:

means for heating the interlayer to soften it; and

means for separating the first and second sheets (“

the separating means”

), the separating means being arranged to effect forcing apart of the first and second sheets when the interlayer is softened.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for heating the interlayer comprises a radiation heat source.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the radiation heat source is adjustable whereby the radiation may be output at a frequency at which it is generally transmittable through the sheet material and generally absorbable by the interlayer.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the radiation heat source comprises an infrared radiation heat source.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the separating means is arranged remote from the heat source and the apparatus further comprises means for conveying the laminate from the heat source to the separating means.