Patent ID: 8540002

Claim:
An apparatus for performing rigid-to-rigid substrate lamination processes implementing pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), comprising: a base portion, the base portion being configured with a support surface for supporting at least one laminate assembly stack, each laminate assembly stack included in the at least one laminate assembly stack including at least one layer of PSA, a first substrate, and a second substrate, the at least one layer of PSA being positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, the base portion being further configured with a vacuum port for allowing the base portion to be connected with a vacuum pump; a cover portion configured for being connected with the base portion, the cover portion further configured for forming an enclosure with the base portion when the apparatus is established in a closed position, the cover portion being configured with at least one pressurization port for allowing the cover portion to be connected with at least one pressurization source; at least one flexible membrane configured for being at least one of connected to the cover portion, connected to the base portion, or positioned between the cover portion and the base portion, the at least one flexible membrane and the cover portion forming a first sealed cavity when the apparatus is established in the closed position, the at least one flexible membrane and base portion forming a second sealed cavity when the apparatus is established in the closed position, when a pressure is created within the first sealed cavity via the pressurization port and when a vacuum is created within the second sealed cavity via the vacuum port, the at least one flexible membrane further configured for applying said pressure to the at least one laminate assembly stack while said vacuum is applied to the at least one laminate assembly stack; and a protective carriage, the protective carriage having at least one aperture formed therethrough, the protective carriage configured for being placed upon the support surface for protecting substrate components from the pressure applied by the at least one flexible membrane, further, the support surface and the protective carriage being configured for forming a partial enclosure when the protective carriage is placed upon the support surface; wherein at least one of a magnitude, duration or location of the applied pressure is selectably controllable, the applied pressure and applied vacuum promoting intimate contact between the first substrate and the second substrate via the PSA layer(s) for the at least one laminate assembly stack during rigid-to-rigid substrate lamination processes.