Patent ID: 6645328
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of laminating a film to a substrate comprising:providing a steered vacuum-assisted laminating apparatus comprising a laminator and a steering system comprising: a laminator comprising spaced-apart first and second rolls mounted parallel to each other, a seal mechanism extending between the first and second rolls, wherein the seal mechanism roll forms a seal with each of the first and second rolls, and a vacuum cavity formed between the seal mechanism and the first and second rolls; and a steering system for guiding the laminator over the substrate, the steering system comprising a vertical control mechanism maintaining a selected vertical position of the laminator relative to a reference line; and a vehicle moving the laminator along the substrate in a travel direction; locating a film between the substrate and at least one of the first and second rolls; drawing a vacuum in the vacuum cavity formed by the seal mechanism and the first and second rolls, wherein the first and second rolls are drawn against the substrate; and moving the laminator along the substrate in a travel direction while maintaining the laminator in a selected vertical position relative to a reference line, wherein the film is laminated to the substrate.