US5891297A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for peeling a polarized film
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-29
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2017-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A polarizer film tool, for removal of polarizer film from an LCD panel, is provided. The tool includes a take-up cylinder whose rotational action pulls the film from the LCD and wraps the removed film around itself. Two padded rotating stabilization cylinders guide the LCD in a preferred path through the tool to equally distribute the force used to hold the LCD as the polarizer film is pulled from its surface. The padded cylinders allow for deviations in the preferred path to accommodate any discrete parts mounted on the LCD that have a higher profile than the LCD surface. A method for removing the polarizer film with the above-mentioned tool is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary F. Stadtmueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C63/00; B29C63/0004; B29C63/0013; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133528; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S156/00; Y10S156/934; Y10S156/935; Y10S156/937; Y10S156/938; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/11; Y10T156/1168; Y10T156/1174; Y10T156/1189; Y10T156/19; Y10T156/1961; Y10T156/1967; Y10T156/1972
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for peeling a sheet of polarizer film adhered to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, the system comprising: a take-up roller having a rotational axis and a surface to accept polarizer film as it is peeled, with the rotation of said take-up roller peeling the polarizer from the LCD and advancing the position of the LCD panel along a first plane tangent to said take-up roller surface; at least one alignment roller having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of said take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining said core and an outside surface, said first alignment roller aligning the LCD in the first plane, which is tangent to the compressed outside surface of said cushioned tube when the polarizer film is engaged with said take-up roller, whereby alignment in the first plane helps distribute forces on the LCD more equally as the polarizer is peeled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for peeling a sheet of polarizer film adhered to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, the system comprising: a take-up roller having a rotational axis and a surface to accept polarizer film as it is peeled, with the rotation of said take-up roller peeling the polarizer from the LCD and advancing the position of the LCD panel along a first plane tangent to said take-up roller surface; at least one alignment roller having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of said take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining said core and an outside surface, said first alignment roller aligning the LCD in the first plane, which is tangent to the compressed outside surface of said cushioned tube when the polarizer film is engaged with said take-up roller, whereby alignment in the first plane helps distribute forces on the LCD more equally as the polarizer is peeled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising a second alignment roller having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of said take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining said core and an outside surface, said second alignment roller aligning the LCD in the first plane, which is tangent to the compressed outside surface of said second alignment roller cushioned tube when the polarizer film is engaged with said take-up roller, whereby said second alignment roller acts to further distribute the forces on the LCD and to control the alignment of the LCD in the first plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein at least one polarizer film corner is provided, and in which said take-up roller has a slot in said take-up roller surface along the rotational axis to accept the polarizer corner, whereby the polarizer film is easily engagable with said take-up roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising a crank having a rotational axis, with said crank being attached to said take-up roller so that the rotational axis of said take-up roller is aligned with the rotational axis of said crank, whereby said crank permits the take-up roller to be turned in a continuous motion, reducing the stress of start-and-stop motions on the LCD.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as in claim 2 wherein the LCD has discrete electronic components mounted on the periphery of the display, in which said first and second alignment roller cushioned tubes are polyethylene having an uncompressed thickness, between the inside and outside surfaces, of approximately 0.25 inches, whereby the peripheral parts are accommodated while maintaining even pressure on the LCD panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system as in claim 2 in which the shortest distance between the first plane, as it intersects said first alignment roller, and said first alignment roller core surface is in the range between 0.190 and 0.210 inches, and in which the shortest distance between the first plane, as it intersects said second alignment roller, and said second alignment roller core surface is in the range between 0.190 and 0.210 inches, whereby said cushioned tubes are compressed hard enough to distribute the forces along the LCD surface, and light enough to accommodate the profile of peripherally mounted parts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system as in claim 2 wherein said take-up and alignment rollers have proximal and distal axis ends, and the system further comprising a first end cap having a surface orthogonal to the roller axes to accept said proximal roller ends, and a second end cap having a surface orthogonal to said roller axes to accept said distal roller ends, whereby said end caps keep said roller axes in parallel alignment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as in claim 7 further comprising at least two support rods having proximal and distal ends and rod axes parallel to the roller axes, said rod proximal ends attached to said first end cap and said rod distal ends attached to said second end cap, whereby said support rods maintain the alignment of said end caps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a system including a take-up roller and at least one alignment roller having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining the core and an outside surface, a method for peeling polarizer film adhered to an LCD panel comprising the steps of: a) engaging the polarizer film with the take-up roller; b) aligning the LCD on a first plane tangent to the take-up roller and to the compressed outside surface of the first alignment roller cushioned tube; c) rotating the take-up roller; and d) simultaneously wrapping polarizer film peeled from the LCD around the take-up roller, and pulling the LCD along the first plane past the take-up roller, whereby the alignment roller helps distribute the forces on the LCD as the polarizer is peeled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a system including a take-up roller and at least one alignment roller having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining the core and an outside surface, a method for peeling polarizer film adhered to an LCD panel comprising the steps of: a) engaging the polarizer film with the take-up roller; b) aligning the LCD on a first plane tangent to the take-up roller and to the compressed outside surface of the first alignment roller cushioned tube; c) rotating the take-up roller; and d) simultaneously wrapping polarizer film peeled from the LCD around the take-up roller, and pulling the LCD along the first plane past the take-up roller, whereby the alignment roller helps distribute the forces on the LCD as the polarizer is peeled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the take-up roller has a slot in its surface along the rotational axis, and including the further step, preceding Step a), of: a 1 ) separating a corner of the sheet of polarizer from the LCD; and in which Step a) includes inserting the corner into the slot of the take-up roller, whereby the polarizer is engaged with the take-up roller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein a second alignment roller, having a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the take-up roller, and including a cylindrical non-compressible core with a surface, and a cushioned tube having an inside surface adjoining the core and an outside surface, is provided, and including the further step, following Step d), of: e) accepting the LCD, stripped of polarizer, on the first plane tangent to the compressed outside surface of the second alignment roller cushioned tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 11 in which Steps b) and e) included using a polyethylene cushioned tube having a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches between the inside and outside surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 11 in which Steps b) and e) include compressing the cushioned tube approximately 0.05 inches to align the LCD in the first plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein a crank is provided having a rotational axis aligned with the rotational axis of the take-up roller, and in which Step c) includes using the crank to rotate the take-up roller, whereby the take-up roller is continuously rotated to eliminate additional forces on the LCD panel related to starting the peeling process.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-05 | 2002-10-05 | 2003-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-05 | 2006-10-05 | 2007-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-05 | 2010-10-05 | 2011-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |