Method of laminating articles

• US 7,910,046 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Deininger, Steve T
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Edmund H.
• Application Number:
  US12/211,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20090008029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 264/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0027 Gate or gate mark locations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0046 Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14836 Preventing damage of inserts during injection, e.g. collapse of hollow inserts, breakage B29C45/14434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/02 using sheet or web-like material B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7532 Artificial members, protheses
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/264 Pressure equalizing layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/26 with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

A method of laminating a sheet or sheets to a substrate and a method of laminating a plurality of articles. The substrate is inserted into a press. The sheet is inserted into the press over the substrate. Liquid thermoset polymer is injected into the press. Heat and pressure are applied forcing the liquid thermoset polymer against the sheet and forcing the sheet against the substrate. The liquid thermoset polymer is allowed to cure under heat and pressure forming a cured silicone rubber sheet. The cured silicone rubber sheet is removed from the press. A plurality of articles may be laminated by laminating the second of the articles while the first article is cooling.

Claims

1. A method of laminating a first cover sheet to a first side of a substrate and simultaneously laminating a second cover sheet to a second side of said substrate, comprising the steps of:

inserting said substrate into a press;

inserting said first cover sheet into said press on said first side of said substrate;

inserting said second cover sheet into said press on second side of said substrate;

then injecting liquid thermoset polymer into said press on both sides of said substrate;

applying heat and pressure into said press forcing said liquid thermoset polymer against said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet and forcing said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet against said substrate;

allowing said liquid thermoset polymer to at least partially cure under heat and pressure forming a first at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet on said first side of said substrate and forming a second at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet on said second side of said substrate;

removing said substrate, said first cover sheet and aid second cover sheet from said press; and

removing said first at least cured silicone rubber sheet and second at least partially cured silicon rubber sheet from said first and second cover sheet, respectively;

whereby said first cover sheet and second cover sheet are laminated to said substrate through the force of pressure from said liquid thermoset polymer.

2. A method of laminating as in claim 1 further comprising the step of applying an insulative sheet over each side of said substrate before inserting said substrate into said press.

3. A method of laminating as in claim 2 wherein said insulative sheet comprises a polymeric sheet.

4. A method of laminating as in claim 3 wherein said polymeric sheet comprises polyimide.

5. A method of laminating as in claim 1 wherein said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet have a layer of adhesive on one side thereof and wherein said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet are adhesively secured to said substrate.

6. A method of laminating as in claim 1 wherein said removing said first at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet step and said removing said second at least partially cured rubber sheet occur after said removing said substrate, said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet from said press step.

7. A method of laminating as in claim 1 further comprising the step of placing said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet over said substrate and wherein said inserting said substrate, said inserting said first cover sheet step and said inserting said second cover sheet steps occur simultaneously.

8. A method of laminating as in claim 1 further comprising the step of discarding said first at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet and said second at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet.

9. A method of laminating as in claim 1 further comprising the step of allowing said substrate to cool after said removing said substrate from said press step and before said removing said first at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet and said removing said second at least partially cured silicone rubber sheet steps.