A sticking device includes: a transfer roller that transfers a sticking film piece to a circumferential surface, and sticks the sticking film piece to a member to be stuck; a moving unit that moves the transfer roller; and a sticking film adjusting unit that adjusts a position and a posture of the sticking film piece on the circumferential surface of the transfer roller at a position away from both a transfer region A1 and a sticking region A2. The sticking film piece adjusting unit includes: a rotation angle adjusting unit that adjusts a sticking start position of the sticking film piece; a width direction adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the sticking film piece; and an inclination adjusting unit that adjusts an angle of the transfer roller.

A manufacturing method including a first conveying step of conveying the sheet in a lateral or oblique lateral direction along a sheet pass line below the discharge port; a receiving step of receiving a tip part of the film raw material with the sheet on the sheet pass line, the tip part being discharged and hanging down from the discharge port; a second conveying step of conveying the sheet and the film raw material after the tip part overlaps the sheet on the sheet pass line, the second conveying step conveying the sheet and the film raw material in a mutually overlapping state along the sheet pass line; and an introducing step of introducing the sheet and the film raw material in the mutually overlapping state to the joining part from the sheet pass line.

A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.

A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.

An image forming system includes the following. An image former forms an image on a recording medium. A laminator performs lamination in which a film is laminated on a surface of the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image former. A hardware processor obtains information regarding image forming by the image former and that determines a condition of the lamination by the laminator based on the obtained information regarding the image forming.

A device for laminating a substrate with a thermoplastic coating material has an IR heating device for melting a surface of the coating material, an opposite cooling apparatus which actively cools the opposite surface of the coating material, and at least one press-roller assembly, which presses together the substrate web and the coating material to produce a hot-melt adhesive bond. In order to prevent any irregularities in the finished product, the cooling apparatus is designed as a rotatably driven cooling roller, over the circumference of which the following are arranged in succession: a feed apparatus for the thermoplastic coating material, one or more IR radiant heaters for heating the surface of the thermoplastic coating material resting on the cooling roller, a feed apparatus for the substrate web, one or more press rollers for pressing the substrate web against the coating material, and a removal apparatus for the laminated product.

A device for laminating a substrate with a thermoplastic coating material has an IR heating device for melting a surface of the coating material, an opposite cooling apparatus which actively cools the opposite surface of the coating material, and at least one press-roller assembly, which presses together the substrate web and the coating material to produce a hot-melt adhesive bond. In order to prevent any irregularities in the finished product, the cooling apparatus is designed as a rotatably driven cooling roller, over the circumference of which the following are arranged in succession: a feed apparatus for the thermoplastic coating material, one or more IR radiant heaters for heating the surface of the thermoplastic coating material resting on the cooling roller, a feed apparatus for the substrate web, one or more press rollers for pressing the substrate web against the coating material, and a removal apparatus for the laminated product.

A laminator for high-precision solvent-bonding of retardation films is disclosed. The laminator is capable of producing laminates with high orientation repeatability and low in-plane stress which can otherwise create gaps between optimum theoretical performance and that which is physically realizable. Batch-mode laminators are scalable to large area mother-sheets and are suited to high-throughput manufacturing.

A laminator for high-precision solvent-bonding of retardation films is disclosed. The laminator is capable of producing laminates with high orientation repeatability and low in-plane stress which can otherwise create gaps between optimum theoretical performance and that which is physically realizable. Batch-mode laminators are scalable to large area mother-sheets and are suited to high-throughput manufacturing.

An apparatus and method for leveling a bonding device and anvil in an assembly via a closed-loop control system is provided. The assembly includes an anvil, a bonding device positioned adjacent the anvil and configured to interact with the anvil to form the bonds on the web, and an actuator that enables adjustment of an orientation between the bonding device and the anvil. The assembly also includes a closed-loop control system configured to control operation of the actuator, with the closed-loop control system configured to monitor an operational parameter of the assembly indicative of interaction of the bonding device with the anvil, determine whether the bonding device is parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil based on the operational parameter, and when the bonding device is not parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil, cause the actuator to adjust the orientation between the bonding device and the anvil.