An object is to provide a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal layer in which an alignment film is repeatedly used and a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystal layer can be sufficiently aligned. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal layer includes: an alignment film forming step of forming an alignment film on a support; a liquid crystal alignment film alignment step of laminating a first liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound on the alignment film and aligning the first liquid crystal composition; a liquid crystal alignment layer forming step of polymerizing the aligned first liquid crystal composition to form a liquid crystal alignment layer; a peeling step of laminating and immobilizing a surface of the liquid crystal alignment layer opposite to the alignment film on an adherend and peeling the liquid crystal alignment layer from the alignment film at an interface between the liquid crystal alignment layer and the alignment film; a liquid crystal layer alignment step of laminating a second liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound on a surface of the liquid crystal alignment layer from which the alignment film is peeled off and aligning the second liquid crystal composition; a liquid crystal layer forming step of polymerizing the aligned second liquid crystal composition to form a liquid crystal layer; and a liquid crystal layer separation step of separating the formed liquid crystal layer from the liquid crystal alignment layer, in which the liquid crystal layer alignment step to the liquid crystal layer separation step are repeated to repeatedly prepare the liquid crystal layer.

A scrap collection assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a crack-off assembly with a scrap crack-off redirect roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; and a secondary crack-off roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a pivot that connects the crack-off assembly to the tape lamination head, wherein the secondary crack-off roller selectively moves about the pivot to change a direction of composite tape movement.

A machine to apply tape to a surface includes a handle for manipulation by a user connected to a wheeled applicator allowing the tape to be dispensed from the applicator and rolled onto a surface. The applicator includes two sidewalls adjustable relative to each other on guide bars to define space therebetween where rolls of tape having different widths can be accommodated. The sidewalls further include bottom portions shaped complimentarily with the wheel to define a path sized for a width of the tape around the wheel, and where the sidewalls further define a path sized for the width of the tape over at least one guide bar. The applicator also may include a clutched take-up reel operatively connected to the wheel, where rotation of the wheel causes the take-up reel to rotate and collect a liner.

A frangible laminate includes first, second and third webs, and the second web is positioned between the first and third webs. The forming of the frangible laminate includes adhesively bonding a first plurality of sections of the second web to the first web, applying release material in order to inhibit at least some of any bonding between the first plurality of sections of the second web and the third web, and adhesively bonding a second plurality of sections of the second web to the third web. The frangible laminate is separated into a first laminate and a second laminate, so that the first laminate includes the first web and the first plurality of sections of the second web, and the second laminate includes the third web and the second plurality of sections of the second web.

A label assembly including a face sheet, a back sheet, and a layer of an adhesive positioned between the face sheet and the back sheet. A separation line divides the label assembly into at least two portions. The separation line is formed by a first tearable line of separation extending across the back sheet and a second tearable line of separation extending across the face sheet. The first tearable line of separation is offset with respect to the second tearable line of separation, and at least one of the first and second tearable lines of separation includes a non-linear portion directed toward and/or an angled portion extending at an angle to an other of the at least one of the first and second tearable lines of separation.

A peeling device includes a rolling mechanism, a peeling mechanism, and a suction mechanism. The rolling mechanism includes a feeding wheel and a receiving wheel. At least one of the feeding wheel and the receiving wheel is configured to rotate. The peeling mechanism includes a peeling plate including a first surface and a side surface. The suction mechanism includes a support table and a rotary suction cup. A carrier tape is transmitted in sequence around the feeding wheel, the first surface, the side surface, and the receiving wheel. The peeling plate peels the material from the carrier tape at a junction of the first surface and the side surface. The support table holds the material peeled from the carrier tape. The rotary suction cup is used to suck the material from the support table and move the material to a next processing area.

A labeling apparatus comprises a separation member configured to promote detachment of an adhesive label from liner web. Adhesive labels are fed to the separation member such that a surface of the facestock contacts the separation member. The separation member has a surface exhibiting a tack such that the tack force between the facestock and the separation member is greater than the release force between the release liner and the adhesive layer of the labels. The labels become associated with the separation member, and the label is applied to a surface of a substrate by contacting the exposed adhesive layer with a surface of a substrate, which causes the adhesive label to detach from the separation member.

Provided is a substrate holding apparatus capable of appropriately holding a substrate. The substrate holding apparatus is suggested to hold a substrate including a portion to be plated that is exposed to a plating solution and an edge portion that is an area outside the portion to be plated. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a grasp module to come in contact with the edge portion of the substrate and thereby grasp the substrate, a suction module to attract the portion to be plated of the substrate by suction to hold the portion to be plated, and a protrusion provided at a position corresponding to the portion to be plated in the substrate, and protruding toward the substrate to be held by the substrate holding apparatus more than the suction module.

A method of peeling off the protective film includes: providing a panel lower sheet, where a protective film is provided on one surface of the plane lower sheet and the protective film has a bending line extending in a first direction parallel to opposing sides thereof; gripping a portion of the protective film; moving the gripped portion of the protective film in a second direction which is a thickness direction thereof; and moving the panel lower sheet in a third direction perpendicular to the bending line.

A label web and method utilize a substrate, first and second longitudinally spaced label arrays each including two or more double-sided adhesive labels removably attached to the substrate, and a peelable protective covering web extending generally coextensive with the substrate. The label arrays and the peelable protective web are configured such that the peelable protective web is selectively removable to expose the first label array while remaining removably attached to the second label array, with both the first and second label arrays remaining removably attached to the substrate, to thereby facilitate removal of all labels in the first label array as a group while the peelable protective covering web remains in place over the second label array.