Film peeling apparatus having film end detector

Claim 1

A film peeling apparatus for peeling and discharging a film adhered to a board comprising: (a) conveying means for carrying the board through the apparatus; (b) film lifting means for initially separating the film to be peeled from a bonding surface of the board, said film lifting means being comprised of a projected press mechanism having a cylindrical needle-like press member with a substantially conical end portion extending therefrom and mechanical means for bring said end portion in contact with the film and its bonding surface at an angle therewith to create a gap at an interface therebetween whereby said lifting means applies film separating energy to an interface between the film and the bonding surface up to a predetermined distance from a forward end of the board; (c) film end detecting means for detecting the forward edge of the film and positioning said film lifting means at the forward edge of said film to separate said film; (d) film peeling means for raising the film from its surface after the film has been initially separated therefrom by said film lifting means; and (e) film discharging means for receiving the film from said film peeling means and discarding the film.