Description:A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL LAMINATION
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for laminating a substrate and in particular to a thermal lamination using an infra-red heating system and heated cylinders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Laminating methods are well known for the objects such as important documents, old documents and other printed matters to prevent a forgery or quality degradation of those objects or to protect the surfaces of those objects.

[0003] In the conventional methods, a released paper sheet, released synthetic resin film or non-released synthetic resin film is laminated using a thermoplastic resin solution, thereby forming a lamination sheet as a medium, so that the resultant synthetic resin thin film on the lamination sheet is subsequently transferred onto an object as the lamination sheet passes through a nip defined between pressing rollers along with the object.

[0004] Despite the numerous prior art, there is still need an improved process or device for the thermal lamination for better bonding of the substrate and the laminate materials.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a process of the thermal lamination using an infra red heating system and heated cylinders.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminate using a co-polymer coated polyethylene terephthalate film.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal lamination apparatus having an infra red heating system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides a process for a thermal lamination of a substrate includes the steps of; a. providing a lamination film, a supporting layer and a printing strip in which the lamination film is a plastic film selected from the group of polyethylene, the supporting layer is a layer selected from the group of sealing layer, aluminum foil and LD foam, and the printing strip is a printed polyethylene terephthalate film strips, b. providing the substrate with the lamination film, c. heating the lamination film through an infra red heat using an infra red heating system (14), d. heating and pressing the lamination film, supporting layer and printing strip together using a heated cylinder (15a, 15b and 15c) for a laminate and e. cooling the laminate using a chilled cylinder.

[00010] Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus of the thermal lamination which includes a plurality of nipping rollers of the heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c), the infra red heating system (14) which is arranged in parallel with the heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c), a plurality of the chilling cylinders (16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d) which is arranged at one end of the heated cylinders (15a, 15b, 15c) and several web supply rollers (11, 12 and 13) which are arranged to provide the materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00011] The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses therefore can be more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures;

[00012] Figure 1 represents a process for a thermal lamination of a substrate and an apparatus of thermal lamination having an infra red heating system and heated cylinders.

[00013] Figure 2 represents a stripped pattern of laminate and non laminated strips formed on the laminate after the process of thermal lamination.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00014] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the device may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[00015] With reference of Figure 1, one embodiment of the present invention provides a materials used for the process of the thermal lamination. The materials include a roll of lamination film which is a plastic film such as a Co-polymer coated PET film, preferably 75µ Co-polymer coated PET film which is arranged on a web supply roller 1 (11) , a roll of supporting layer which is one of a roll of 19µ-70µ sealing layer or 25µ aluminum foil or 130µ LD foam and arranged on a web supply roller 2 (13) and a roll of printing strips such as a roll of 12µ arrow printed PET film strips which are arranged on differential shafts of web supply roller 3 (12).

[00016] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a thermal lamination apparatus which includes a plurality of heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c), preferably several nipping stations of the heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c) are arranged in a straight line. Further an infra red heating system (14) is arranged in parallel with the heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c). Moreover a plurality of chilling cylinders (16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d) is arranged at the one end of the heated cylinders (15a, 15b, 15c). Further the apparatus includes several web supply rollers (11, 12 and 13) which are arranged to provide the materials.

[00017] Further the process of the thermal lamination includes the following steps;

1. Providing the lamination film such as 75µ Co-polymer coated PET film, the supporting layer such as 19µ-70µ sealing layer or 25µ aluminum foil or 130µ LD foam and the printing strips such as 12µ arrow printed PET film strips.

2. Providing a substrate such as documents, pictures or calendars that need to be laminated and which are arranged with the 75µ Co-polymer coated PET film.

3. Passing the 75µ Co-polymer coated PET film having the substrate from the web supply roller 1 (11) through the infra red heating system (14) for infra-red heating, where the temperature is controlled at 80°C.

4. Passing the 75µ Co-polymer coated PET film having the substrate from the infra red heating system (14), 19µ-70µ sealing layer or 25µ aluminum foil or 130µ LD foam from web supply roller 2 (13) and 12µ arrow printed PET film strips from web supply roller 3 (12) through the several nipping stations of the heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c) with the help of web aligner and tension control mechanism. The nipping stations of heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c) includes the temperature of 170-180 °C to provide heating and pressing of the materials along with the substrate that bond together to form a laminate.

5. Passing the laminate through the series of chilling cylinders (16a, 16b, 16c and 16d) to allow the laminate to cool down at ambient temperature.

6. Winding of the laminate formed through the process on the roller (17).

[00018] With reference of figure 2, the stripped pattern of laminated and non-laminated strips (18) is shown which is formed on the laminate. This laminated and non- laminated pattern is used for creating tab during die-punching. Further this tab is used for easy peel of the wad at consumer end.

[00019] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, person skilled in the art will recognize that the changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims:CLAIMS
I/We claim:
1. A process for a thermal lamination of a substrate comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a lamination film, a supporting layer and a printing strip, wherein the lamination film comprises a plastic film selected from the group consisting of polyethylene;
b. Providing the substrate with the lamination film;
c. Heating the lamination film through an infra red heat;
d. Heating and pressing the lamination film, the supporting layer and the printing strip wherein the lamination film, the supporting layer and the printing strip attached to form a laminate; and
e. Cooling the laminate through at least one chilling cylinder (16a).

2. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of heating the lamination film through the infra red heat comprises an infra red heating system (14).

3. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of heating and pressing comprises at least one heated cylinder (15a).

4. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic film is a co-polymer coated polyethylene terephthalate.

5. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting layer comprises a layer selected from the group of sealing layer, aluminum foil and LD foam.

6. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing strips comprise a printed polyethylene terephthalate film strips.

7. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temperature of the infra red heating system (14) is control at 70°C – 90 °C.

8. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temperature of the infra red heating system (14) is control at 80 °C.

9. The process for a thermal lamination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heated cylinder comprises the heating temperature of 170°C – 180°C.

10. An apparatus of thermal lamination comprises:

a. a plurality of nipping rollers of heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c);
b. at least one chilling cylinder (16a) wherein the chilling cylinder (16a) is aligned with the nipping rollers of heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c);
c. at least one infra red heating system (14) arranged in parallel with said nipping rollers of heated cylinders (15a, 15b and 15c); and
d. a plurality of web supply rollers (11,12 and 13).