Patent ID: 7290580

Claim:
A reinforcement combining apparatus, comprising: a first pressing member having a pressing surface; and a second pressing member having a pressing surface opposite to the pressing surface of the first pressing member, wherein: the first pressing member and the second pressing member including means for sandwiching and pressing (i) a flexible wiring substrate including a conductive wiring formed on a polymer based flexible film substrate and (ii) a reinforcement, so that pressure causes the reinforcement to be combined with the flexible wiring substrate on a side of the flexible wiring substrate opposite a connector-installation area of the flexible wiring substrate, at least one of the pressing surfaces of the first pressing member and the second pressing member has elasticity which allows the pressing surface of the first pressing member and/or the pressing surface of the second pressing member to transform at an arbitrary area, a first recession provided on the pressing surface of the first pressing member, and a first buffer member detachably provided by fitting part of the first buffer member in the first recession so that the first buffer member can be detached from the recession; a first vacuum hole provided in the pressing surface of the first pressing member to engage the first buffer member and hold the first buffer member in the first recession; and a second vacuum hole provided in the pressing surface of the first pressing member and extending through the first buffer member to engage and hold the reinforcement against the first buffer member.