Embodiments of the invention are directed to a transfer lamination process and apparatus that reduces substrate warpage. In some embodiments, the transfer lamination process is performed using a transfer lamination device, which includes a transfer unit, a substrate rotator, and a transfer ribbon having a carrier layer and a transfer layer attached to the carrier layer. In some embodiments of the transfer lamination process, a transfer section of the transfer layer is transferred from the carrier layer to a first surface of a substrate using the transfer unit. In some embodiments of this transferring step, the transfer section is heated and pressed against the first surface of the substrate using the transfer unit, and the carrier layer is detached from the transfer section. The substrate is then inverted using the substrate rotator. At least a portion of a second surface of the substrate that is opposite the first surface is then heated using the transfer unit without transferring the transfer layer to the portion of the second surface.

Provided are assemblies, each including a first structure having a uniform coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a second composite structure having a variable CTE. Also provided are methods of forming such assemblies. The second structure has overlap, transition, and baseline regions. The overlap region directly interfaces the first structure and has a CTE comparable to that of the first structure. The baseline region is away from the first structure and has a different CTE. Each of these CTEs may be uniform in its respective region. The transition region may interconnect the baseline and overlap regions and may have gradual CTE change from one end to the other. The CTE variation with the second composite structure may be achieved by changing fiber angles in at least one ply extending through all three regions. For example, any of the plies may be subjected to fiber steering.

A foil transfer device, a foil transfer method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute first, second and third processes. In the first process, an acute angle portion included in a contour of a predetermined shape is specified. In the second process, an approximation curve along a contour of the acute angle portion specified in the first process and is located inside the predetermined shape is obtained. In the third process, movement route data for the acute angle portion is created along the approximation curve obtained in the second process. The movement route data is usable for, for example, control of moving a heater of the foil transfer device.

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 fabric handling apparatus includes a layup table, a mold disposed adjacent to the layup table, and a fabric handling array suspended above the layup table and the mold. The fabric handling array is adapted to transfer at least one fabric shape from the layup table to the mold. The fabric handling array includes a plurality of attractors in an attractor array. An orientation of the fabric handling array is alterable with respect to at least one of the layup table and the mold so that the at least one fabric shape is positionable on the mold in a predetermined orientation.

An automated bonding sequence system and method for customizing a bonding sequence is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting that a first substrate is in close proximity with the a second substrate, during an optical bonding operation, wherein at least the first substrate includes an amount of adhesive for optically bonding to the second substrate, stopping an automated process of optically bonding of the optical bonding operation, in response to the detecting, recording operator feedback control signals, the operator feedback control signals being received from a controller being operated by an operator to contact the first substrate and the second substrate, analyzing the operator feedback control signals to determine a bonding sequence for automatically optically bonding the first substrate and the second substrate, and resuming, by the processor, the automated process of the optical bonding operation.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with at least one mechanically actuated modality for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.

Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with vacuum for the pick up and release of materials, respectively.

A post-processing apparatus comprises a first processing tray on which fed paper is placed; a paper binding section configured to bind a plurality of sheets of paper stacked on the first processing tray into one bundle; a second processing tray which a plurality of paper bundles bound on the first processing tray are sequentially conveyed to and placed on; a paper bundle gluing section configured to coat glue at a given position of the top surface of a first paper bundle placed on the second processing tray before a second paper bundle is placed on the first paper bundle; a pressing section configured to press and bind the first paper bundle with the second paper bundle between which glue is coated; and a control section configured to control the timing for conveying the second paper bundle onto the first paper bundle after the glue is coated.