Flexible Display Laminator

Introducing the Flexible Display Laminator, a specialized machine designed for processing flexible printed electronics products. This machine is essential for creating innovative, rollable screens used in e-readers and smartphones.

The Flexible Display Laminator comprises two machines that operate in a clean room environment, ensuring minimal contamination and optimal production conditions.

The fully-automated process begins with a robotic arm precisely placing glass carriers onto a vacuum bed/laminating table, which accurately transports the glass plates into the laminating machine. Once in position, a laminating roller applies a foil onto the glass plate, and a tape is applied across the foil’s width to facilitate easier delamination in the second machine. A laser cutter then trims the foil along the glass’s contour, creating an Island Placement lamination application. The laser unit also engraves a unique code onto each laminated foil sheet. After processing, the robotic arm returns the laminated glass plate to a collection tray.

In the second machine, the glass plates with foil are processed further. A different machine applies a printed electronic structure onto the foil. The robotic arm precisely places these products onto a vacuum bed/delaminating table, which positions the plate under a laser cutter to cut the tape (applied in the first machine) and create a grip point for the delaminating roller. The foil with printed electronics is then delaminated from the glass plate using an electrostatically charged roller, transferring the printed electronics onto the foil. The roller remains charged, ensuring the foil adheres to it. The empty glass plate is returned to the collection tray by the robotic arm.

Next, a Pick and Place unit places a sheet of Poron® material onto the laminating table, where its liner/release film is removed by a tape unit. The sheet is then accurately positioned under the laminating roller, where the foil with printed electronics is laminated onto the Poron®. The laminated material is then brought to the laser cutter for final shape cutting. The cut-out waste material is discarded into a waste bin, and the finished products, base materials for flexible displays, are placed into designated trays by the Pick and Place unit.

To ensure operator safety and maintain the clean room environment’s integrity, the machine is enclosed with safety screens equipped with sensors and electronic locking devices. The machine operates only when all doors are securely closed.