Abstract: Film lamination vehicles and methods that can be used to laminate films to surfaces are disclosed. The vehicles and methods use a moving lamination device that forms a lamination front over which the film is applied to the surface. The lamination front complies to irregularities in the surface such as dips, bumps, etc. while providing substantially uniform pressure such that the film conforms to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides adhesive film removal methods and apparatus. The removal methods and apparatus involve apply tension over the width of the adhesive film, thereby removing the film from the substrate along the release line that extends over the width of the film. The methods and apparatus are particularly useful in removing large-scale graphic films from substrates such as truck trailers, vans, walls, signs and other large surfaces. The tension applied to the adhesive film during removal is preferably uniform across the width of the film, thereby reducing the risk of the film tearing or breaking during removal. The release line is advanced during removal along the length of the film until the entire film is removed from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Abstract: Methods of forming composite graphic images on a substrate using a plurality of films that are applied and registered with each other under tension are disclosed. The films may include registration marks distributed along their lengths and those registration marks can be used to vary the tension under which the films are dispensed during application to a substrate. By detecting the registration marks on a film already applied to a substrate and detecting corresponding registration marks on a film being dispensed and applied to the substrate, registration between the different portions of the composite image on the different films can be maintained over the length of the films and, therefore, the length of the resulting composite image. That registration is controlled by varying tension of the film being applied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Abstract: Steered vacuum-assisted laminating apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum-assisted laminator for applying large format films to substrates where lamination pressure is generated at least partially by a vacuum drawn in a vacuum cavity. The apparatus also includes a steering system to control the vertical position the laminator and a vehicle to move the laminator along the substrate in a desired direction.

Abstract: Steered vacuum-assisted laminating apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum-assisted laminator for applying large format films to substrates where lamination pressure is generated at least partially by a vacuum drawn in a vacuum cavity. The apparatus also includes a steering system to control the vertical position the laminator and a vehicle to move the laminator along the substrate in a desired direction.

Abstract: Steered vacuum-assisted laminating apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum-assisted laminator for applying large format films to substrates where lamination pressure is generated at least partially by a vacuum drawn in a vacuum cavity. The apparatus also includes a steering system to control the vertical position the laminator and a vehicle to move the laminator along the substrate in a desired direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides adhesive film removal methods and apparatus. The removal methods and apparatus involve apply tension over the width of the adhesive film, thereby removing the film from the substrate along the release line that extends over the width of the film. The methods and apparatus are particularly useful in removing large-scale graphic films from substrates such as truck trailers, vans, walls, signs and other large surfaces. The tension applied to the adhesive film during removal is preferably uniform across the width of the film, thereby reducing the risk of the film tearing or breaking during removal. The release line is advanced during removal along the length of the film until the entire film is removed from the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning an elongate web with respect to a predetermined path of travel. The web is supplied from a supply roll formed by the web being wound around an inner web layer and having an outer web layer. The apparatus includes a frame, and an axle assembly on the frame adapted to hold the supply roll for rotation about an axis to afford unwinding of the web from the supply roll, and adapted for axial movement of the supply roll. An alignment device is provided comprising web-guiding rollers mounted on the frame and generally rigid in the direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable-holding means. The web-guiding rollers guide the opposite edges of the outer web layer of the web laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the web, with the axle assembly affording translation of the supply roll to accommodate telescoped or non-uniformly wound supply rolls, thereby to maintain alignment of the outer web layer with respect to the predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning an elongate web with respect to a predetermined path of travel. The web is supplied from a supply roll formed by the web being wound around an inner web layer and having an outer web layer. The apparatus includes a frame, and an axle assembly on the frame adapted to hold the supply roll for rotation about an axis to afford unwinding of the web from the supply roll, and adapted for axial movement of the supply roll. An alignment device is provided comprising web-guiding rollers mounted on the frame and generally rigid in the direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable-holding means. The web-guiding rollers guide the opposite edges of the outer web layer of the web laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the web, with the axle assembly affording translation of the supply roll to accommodate telescoped or non-uniformly wound supply rolls, thereby to maintain alignment of the outer web layer with respect to the predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: An apparatus for oriented application of a raised pavement marker to a roadway surface includes a reservoir of liquid adhesive; means for discharging a portion of liquid adhesive to form a deposit on the roadway, means for dispensing a raised pavement marker onto the top of the adhesive deposit; and means for aligning the marker at a desired orientation. The apparatus may also include a magazine for storing and sequentially delivering a plurality of raised pavement markers to the means for dispensing. The magazine has inclined walls which accommodate markers with rounded tops and prevent twisting or jamming of the markers.

Abstract: A torque overload release clutch comprises an input, intermediate and output assemblies drivingly interconnected for rotation. A plurality of spline balls interconnects the input assembly with the intermediate assembly. A plurality of main balls disengagably, drivingly interconnects the intermediate assembly to the output assembly. Helical springs provide a reference force. When the axial force due to the applied torque exceeds the reference force, the main balls pivot and rotate so as to disengage the intermediate assembly from the output assembly by kicking the intermediate assembly axially. A latch comprising a dilating ring of balls can maintain the intermediate assembly in the disengaged position. Further, the latch balls can assume an intermediate position between the engaged and disengaged positions which facilitates resetting of the clutch.

Abstract: A photoprocessor for photosensitive webs includes a plurality of tanks containing photoprocessing solution and a dryer. The web is transported through the tank by a plurality of opposed spaced pairs of oppositely oriented driven tapered rollers. The transport speed of the web through the tank is determined by a pair of opposed cylindrical rollers at the exit of the last tank. The cylindrical rollers are driven at a tangential velocity which is approximately equal to the tangential velocity at the centers of the tapered rollers. A loader at the inlet end of the processor includes driven and idler rollers which are normally out of engagement and which are brought into engagement to drive the web into the processor for a selected time period when the web is first sensed at the inlet end of the processor.

Abstract: A leader belt stabilizer for photographic processors designed to maintain the desired orientation of the belt, and an attachment clip and arm assembly used for transporting a strip of photographic material through a processor, which stabilizer includes a belt engaging and stabilizing element positioned immediately ahead of the belt rollers to engage the belt and straighten and stabilize immediately prior to passing around the rollers of the conveyor transport system.

Abstract: A demand driven clutch which constitutes an improvement over Jensen U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,765 and Treise U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,534 and which includes a pair of cooperating driving elements, one of which constitutes a driving collar fixed to the rotary drive shaft and the other constitutes a driving hub connected to said collar by stress distributing axially disposed connecting elements to maintain the circular configuration of the outer clutch surface of said hub for uniform engagement with the circular inner clutch surface of the spring spool pulley member.