Stretch frame for stretching process

• US 9,761,790 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Yoo, Mikyong, Mousavi Nazari, Hooman, Quan, Xina
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Vishal I
• Application Number:
  US14/391,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20150096666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/243 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0028 Stretching, elongating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/24 with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate B32B37/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0012 Mechanical treatment, e.g. roughening, deforming, stretching
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/005 using a piezoelectric polymer
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/08 Shaping or machining of piezoelectric or electrostrictive bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/1051 based on piezoelectric or electrostrictive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/886 Mechanical prestressing means, e.g. springs springs in general F16F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2826 Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/287 including epoxy group or epoxy polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2878 including addition polymer from unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2891 including addition polymer from alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid [e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, etc.] Or derivative thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2896 including nitrogen containing condensation polymer [e.g., polyurethane, polyisocyanate, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a frame and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to at least a portion of the frame, where the pressure sensitive adhesive is arranged to bond a pre-strained film to the frame is disclosed. A method of making the apparatus also is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a stretch frame for manufacturing electroactive polymer devices thereon.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a polymer film device, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising;

a stretch frame; and

an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the stretch frame, wherein the adhesive is configured to bond a pre-strained film tightly to the stretch frame during a manufacture of electroactive polymer devices and further configured to enable an easy removal of film remnants left on the stretch frame after the electroactive polymer devices are removed from the stretch frame;

providing a film;

stretching the film;

laminating or bonding the pre-strained film onto the adhesive coating of the stretch frame;

manufacturing the electroactive polymer device on the pre-strained film; and

removing the electroactive polymer devices from the pre-strained film bonded to the stretch frame by the adhesive.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising incorporating at least a portion of the stretch frame into the electroactive polymer device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a release coating onto at least a portion of the stretch frame and applying the adhesive coating on top of the release coating.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising reusing the stretch frame by removing at least a portion of the pre-strained film from the release coating.

4. A method of fabricating a polymer film device, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising;

a stretch frame; and

an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the stretch frame, wherein the adhesive is configured to bond a pre-strained film tightly to the stretch frame during a manufacture of electroactive polymer devices and further configured to enable an easy removal of film remnants left on the stretch frame after the electroactive polymer devices are removed from the stretch frame;

providing a film;

stretching the film;

laminating or bonding the pre-strained film onto the adhesive coating of the stretch frame;

applying a release coating onto at least a portion of the stretch frame and applying the adhesive coating on top of the release coating; and

applying an adhesion promoter to at least a portion of the stretch frame prior to applying the release coating thereon.