Wasteless type lamination system

• US 7,066,231 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawamata, Shunichi, Sugaya, Kenji, Sasaki, Naotaka, Ito, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLS, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US10/379,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20030178149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 156/256, 156/264, 156/263, 156/270, 156/350, 156/351, 156/353, 156/354, 156/355, 156/362, 156/378, 156/521, 156/308.2, 156/517, 156/555, 156/556, 156/543, 156/559, 156/580, 156/538, 156/364, 156/583.1, 156/519, 156/578, 156/510
• US Class Current: 156/517
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/182 one or more of the layers being plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1322 Severing before bonding or assembling of parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1712 Indefinite or running length work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1741 Progressive continuous bonding press [e.g., roll couples]

Abstract

A wasteless type lamination system comprises a first transfer device for transferring along a first transfer path a continuous laminate film; a cutter for cutting the continuous laminate film in a predetermined length, provided beside the first transfer path at the downstream of the first transfer device; a second transfer device for transferring along the first transfer path a cut laminate film; a film detection sensor for detecting a leading edge of the continuous laminate film, provided beside the first transfer path at the downstream of the cutter; a card transfer device for transferring a card along a second transfer path; and a thermocompression bonding device for laminating the cut laminate film to the card. The continuous laminate film is moved backward from the cutter by a predetermined distance by the first transfer device before or after cutting action of the cutter.

Claims

1. A wasteless type lamination system comprising:

a first transfer means for transferring along a first transfer path a continuous laminate film with a heat adhesive layer on a surface and drawn out from a supply roll;

a cutting means for cutting said continuous laminate film in a predetermined length, provided beside said first transfer path at the downstream of said first transfer means;

a second transfer means for further transferring along said first transfer path a cut laminate film in said predetermined length;

a film detection means for detecting a leading edge of said continuous laminate film provided adjacent said first transfer path at a position downstream of said cutting means, said film detection means including a sensor which generates a signal when said leading edge of said continuous laminate film is detected;

a card transfer means for transferring a card along a second transfer path that converges with said first transfer path at a point of convergence; and

a thermocompression bonding means for laminating said cut laminate film, laid on a surface of said card transferred, to said card, provided at the downstream of said point of convergence,

wherein a leading edge of said continuous laminate film is moved backward, in the direction upstream of said cutting means, by a predetermined distance, by said first transfer means before or after cutting action of said cutting means, and

means to move said continuous laminate film in a forward direction or, alternatively, in a rearward direction, said means adapted to releasably engage one or more of said first or second transfer means whereby said first transfer means may be caused to move said laminate film either forward or backward along said first transfer path, said leading edge of said continuous laminate film when moved backward being moved by a distance estimated to correspond to slack formed in said continuous film laminate subsequent to being cut by said cutting means to said predetermined length, and said second transfer means may be caused to move said cut laminate film forward along said transfer path, so as to remove any laminate film from said cutting means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means to move said continuous laminate film in a forward or rearward direction comprises motor means.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said motor means releasably engages said first or second transfer means by means of a clutch.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said first and second transfer means comprise rollers.