Laminating Apparatus with Sequential Thermal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminating processes for composite document bodies are time-consuming and space-intensive due to the need for multiple heating and cooling presses, requiring frequent movement and additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A laminating device with a hold-down device that fixes the stack in position, allowing sequential positioning of heating and cooling devices, reducing the need for multiple presses and enabling rapid energy transfer and process automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heating and cooling presses are used in series, then the lamination process can be completed, but the lamination time increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heating and cooling presses into a single press by integrating multiple heating devices and multiple cooling devices that can be sequentially positioned. This merging approach maintains the functional completeness of the multi-stage process while eliminating the need for physical transport between separate presses, thereby reducing lamination time and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically positionable heating and cooling devices that can be moved into and out of working positions within a single press. This dynamic configuration allows the system to switch between heating and cooling phases without requiring fixed, separate press stations, enabling rapid phase transitions and reducing overall processing time.
2Reliability
If multiple heating and cooling presses are used in series, then the lamination process can be completed, but the space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple heating and cooling presses into a single integrated press structure. By merging the functional capabilities of multiple presses into one device with positionable components, the system achieves the same lamination process completeness while occupying significantly less floor space and reducing the need for multiple large press installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of multiple separate presses to a vertical integration within a single press structure. The heating and cooling devices are positioned above and below the hold-down device in the vertical dimension, allowing multiple functional stages to occur within the same footprint area, thereby reducing space requirements.
3Temperature
If the stack is moved between different presses, then heating and cooling can be performed, but the process time increases due to transport time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating and cooling functions into a single press location, eliminating the need to transport the stack between separate heating and cooling presses. The positionable heating and cooling devices are brought to the stack within the same press, removing transport time from the process while maintaining full thermal processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hold-down device acts as an intermediary that remains fixed in position while the heating and cooling devices are sequentially positioned against it. This intermediary structure allows thermal processing to occur in place without requiring stack movement, thereby eliminating transport time while maintaining temperature control capabilities.
4Loss of time
If a single press with positionable heating and cooling devices is used, then space is saved and lamination time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamically positionable heating and cooling devices that can be moved into working positions and then fixed during operation. This dynamic approach allows a single press to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require multiple fixed presses, reducing space and time while the positioning mechanism manages the added complexity through standardized motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The single press is designed with universal heating and cooling devices that can be positioned to perform different functions (heating, cooling, preheating, post-cooling) in different sequences. This multi-functionality allows one device to replace multiple specialized presses, and the positioning mechanism provides a universal interface for controlling different thermal processing modes, managing complexity through standardized operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach shortens lamination time, saves space, and improves process efficiency by maintaining the stack's position during heating and cooling phases, with independent control of heating and cooling devices and full-surface energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device (31) is moved to the hold-down device (24) for heating and laminating... the stack (14) is heated to a laminating temperature so that the individual layers are laminated together
Implementation Method 2
the cooling device (32) is moved to the hold-down device (24) for cooling... the stack is cooled from the laminating temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a laminating device and a method for laminating a stack (14) consisting of several substrate layers (12) into a composite body, comprising a base body (16) on which at least one movable punch (21) is provided, and at least one laminating sheet (39) which is arranged between the stack (14) and the movable punch (21), and a press table (19) on which the stack (14) can be arranged in a working position for forming the composite body, wherein the stack (14) can be fixed in position relative to the press table (19) by means of a hold-down device (24), and a heating device (31) and a cooling device (32) can be positioned successively between the hold-down device (24) and the at least one movable punch (21). (See Figure 1)