Abstract: Process for separating individual laminated sheets from a continuous web which comprises individual sheets located end to end with end portions overlapping and a continuous film laminated with each sheet and connecting the sheets together, the process including feeding the web in succession to a sensing station, a tear initiation station and a sheet separation station, the sensing station serving to sense the presence of successive overlapping end portions and thereafter actuating the tear initiation station to rupture the film at one edge thereof in the vicinity of a sensed overlapping portion and thereafter actuate the sheet separation station to propagate said rupture and thereby separate the terminal sheet from the web.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for laminating a film (e.g. of transparent polypropylene) to a substrate (e.g. paper stock bearing printed matter). The method and apparatus comprises coating the film at a station incorporating a pair of contra-rotatable rollers rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and defining a nip. One roller has a portion of its periphery immersable in a bath of water-based adhesive, (e.g. a mix of ethylene and vinyl acetate). The coated film is stripped from the roller and fed to a first infra-red heater tuned to a frequency which evaporates the water content of the adhesive; a laminating station comprising a first pair of contra-rotatable pinch rollers comprising a metal roller and a rubber roller rotatable about parallel axis and defining a nip; a second infra-red heater, also tuned to a frequency that activates the solids of the adhesive adhering to the film; and a second pair of pinch rollers comprising two metal rollers defining a nip.