Process and machine for membrane lamination and article produced with same

摘要

Embodiments provide a lamination machine for laminating a membrane to a fabric of an article, such as to an inside surface of a backpack. The lamination machine may include an enclosure with a rotating air connection coupled to a top surface of the enclosure. The membrane may be mated with the article, and then a plug may be inserted in a top opening of the article. The plug may be coupled with the rotating air connection. The rotating air connection may pump compressed air into an interior portion of the article, through an inlet in the plug. A heater may heat the area surrounding the article to activate an adhesive disposed between the membrane and the inside surface of the article. Additionally, the rotating air connection may rotate the plug, thereby rotating the article assembly to facilitate distribution of heat.

主权项

1. A method for laminating a membrane to a surface of an article comprising:
hanging an article assembly from an air connector coupled to atop inside surface of a lamination machine, the article assembly including:
an article body having a three-dimensional conformation with an inner surface and an opening;a membrane disposed in an interior portion of the article body against the inner surface of the article body; anda heat-activated adhesive disposed between the membrane and the article body; pumping, via the air connector, compressed air into the interior portion of the article body to press the membrane against the inner surface of the article body; heating the compressed air or air around the article body to activate the adhesive; and rotating, by the air connector, the article assembly about an axis of the air connector to facilitate distribution of heat over the adhesive.