When forming smartcards or pre-forms thereof additional functionality may be implemented by, for instance, incorporating components, such as a display device, and the like, by preparing pre-packages separately from the rest of the pre-forms and subsequently inserting the pre-packages into the pre-forms, thereby achieving superior process robustness and production yield.

A film-embossing apparatus with a hot-embossing device which has a heated embossing stamp. With the formation of a contact pressure, a transfer layer, arranged on a carrier film, of a hot-embossing film is transferred to a surface of a workpiece. The hot-embossing device has control inputs and outputs. The film-embossing apparatus has an industrial robot with control inputs and outputs. The control inputs and outputs of the hot-embossing device and of the industrial robot are connected to a control unit. The industrial robot is formed such that it guides the workpiece to the hot-embossing device, positions the workpiece on the embossing stamp, guides the workpiece past the embossing stamp, and guides the embossed workpiece away from the hot-embossing device. The industrial robot can also position the hot-embossing device on the workpiece.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sandwich panel as a semi-finished product where at least one layer of a non-metallic material is positioned between at least two metallic layers. At least one of the metal layers is shaped into a three dimensional layer, and the metal layers are in direct mechanical contact to enable resistance weldability of the semi-finished product in order to connect the semi-finished product to a desired combination of solutions in a subsequent manufacturing process.

In a method of laminating a transfer layer to a substrate, a transfer layer is provided on a carrier layer. Portions of the transfer layer are selectively removed from the carrier layer using an adhesive panel by heating portions of the adhesive panel corresponding to the portions of the transfer layer, and transferring the portions of the transfer layer from the carrier layer to the adhesive panel. A transfer section of the transfer layer is then transferred from the carrier layer to a surface of the substrate by fracturing the transfer layer along an edge of the transfer section.

A panel filter includes a first media layer constructed from a first material that is permeable to air and impermeable to particulates of a targeted size or type, a support grid, and a second media layer constructed from a second material that is permeable to air. The second media layer is adhesively coupled to the first media layer without a mechanical seal. When the first media layer and second media layer are coupled, the support grid is retained between the first media layer and the second media layer.

The invention relates to a process for the production of multilayer composites and to a production plant (12, 60) for this purpose. The multilayer composites comprise at least one substrate web (64, 66), at least one bonding layer, and at least one polyurethane layer which has capillaries which extend through the entire thickness of the at least one polyurethane layer. First, at least one polyurethane layer is produced in a matrix (15), with passage through at least one coating unit (26, 30) and through a plurality of heating units (24, 28, 32). The matrices (15) thus treated are then introduced (76) into an input point (74) of a transfer section (60) for substrate web (64, 66). A structured side (78) of the matrix (15) is applied onto the substrate web (64, 66) passing continuously through the transfer section (60). Treatment of a composite made of the matrix (15) and of the substrate web (64, 66) takes place in a heatable press device (82) with transfer of the at least one polyurethane layer from the matrix to the upper side of the substrate web (64, 66). Finally, the matrix (15) is removed from the substrate web (64, 66), and transferred to a treatment section (12), and the substrate web (64, 66) is wound up at a wind-up unit (100) after removal of the matrix.

Disclosed is a sheets processing system for producing a flat laminated printed item. The system includes a sheet feeding station to feed printed sheets (12) to a laminating station, the laminating station to adhere a laminating material to the printed sheets (12), and a base item application station to apply a base item to the printed sheets (12) being laminated. The system additionally includes a platform to accommodate the sheet feeding station, the laminating station, the base item application station, and a transport roller station, all aligned in a substantially straight line. The system further includes a transport roller station to transport along the platform at least a section of the printed sheets (12) being laminated which is a part of the flat laminated printed item.

A patch lamination device includes a laminate feed roller, a laminating roller, and a laminate spreader. The laminate feed roller is configured to feed a patch laminate ribbon along a laminate path. The laminating roller is configured to laminate individual patch laminates of the ribbon to a surface of a card substrate. The laminate spreader is positioned between the laminate feed roller and the laminating roller. The laminate spreader is configured to reduce the formation of trough wrinkles in a patch laminate that is tensioned between the laminate feed roller and the laminating roller during lamination of the patch laminate to a card substrate using the laminating roller.

The present invention provides a system for the manufacture of membrane electrode assemblies, comprising: a first carriage traversable along a first track, the first carriage having a support platform; a second carriage traversable along a second track, the second carriage having a support platform; sheet supplying means for supplying sheets comprising a gas diffusion layer onto the support platforms of the carriages; and supply means for supplying a continuous web comprising an ion-conducting membrane between at least a portion of the first and second tracks, wherein the system is arranged to align the first and second carriages either side of the continuous web with the support platforms of the first and second carriages facing the continuous web, whereby the system is suitable for adhering sheets carried thereby to opposite sides of the continuous web in an aligned configuration.

A vacuum lamination system includes a film supply assembly, a film collection assembly, a lower lamination body, an upper lamination body, an air extractor, a moving assembly and a cutting assembly. The lower lamination body includes a first casing base and a lower heating assembly vertically movable and disposed in the first casing base. The lower heating assembly carries and moves the substrate so that the substrate is substantially flush with a top surface of the first casing base or retracted into the first casing base. The upper lamination body is vertically movable and disposed above the lower lamination body and includes an upper casing and an upper heating assembly disposed on the upper casing. The air extractor is connected to the lower lamination body. The moving assembly changes a height of a portion of the film. The cutting assembly cuts a portion of the film laminated onto the substrate.