Hot laminating apparatus and electric contact enabling device for use in same

Abstract

A laminating apparatus includes a roller, an electro-heating shaft, a power transmitting and resilient member and a power transmitting and securing member. The roller is in contact with a thin film, moves through the thin film to heat and laminate the thin film to a sheet material. The electro-heating shaft is wrapped by the roller, transforms electric energy into thermal energy to heat the thin film, and drives rotation of the roller to move through the thin film. The power transmitting and resilient member is in contact with an axial end surface of the electro-heating shaft in an axial direction of the electro-heating shaft for transmitting electricity from a power source to the electro-heating shaft. The power transmitting and securing member is coupled to the electro-heating shaft for compressing the power transmitting and resilient member therebetween, thereby continuously transmitting the electricity from the power source to the electro-heating shaft via the power transmitting and securing member.

1. A laminating apparatus for laminating a sheet material between a pair of thin films, comprising:
 a first and a second rollers forming therebetween a passage, through which said sheet material and said thin films are transmitted to be heated and pressed by said first and second rollers;    a first and a second electro-heating shafts wrapped by said first and said second rollers, respectively, transforming electric energy into thermal energy transferred to said first and said second rollers to heat said thin films, and driving rotation of said first and a second rollers to move through said thin films;    a first and a second shaft sheaths covering said axial end surfaces of said first and said second electro-heating shafts and in electric connected with said first and said second electro-heating shafts, respectively;    a first and a second power transmitting and resilient members in contact with axial end surfaces of said first and said second electro-heating shafts in an axial direction of said first and said second electro-heating shafts for transmitting electricity from a power source to said first and said second electro-heating shafts, respectively; and    a first and a second conductive liners interfacing between said first and second electro-heating shafts and axial end surfaces of said first and said second power transmitting and resilient members, respectively.    
     
     
       2. The laminating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and said second conductive liners is made of stainless steel, and each of said first and said second shaft sheaths is made of copper coated with nickel. 
     
     
       3. The laminating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and said second power transmitting and resilient members is a metallic spring. 
     
     
       4. The laminating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and said second power transmitting and resilient members is a conductive rubber. 
     
     
       5. A laminating apparatus for laminating a sheet material between a pair of films comprising:
   a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly, each comprising:      a roller;        a heating shaft extending through the roller and defining at least one circumferential recess;        a sheath extending around at least one end of the heating shaft and defining an opening aligned with the circumferential recess;        a resilient member engaging the sheath and the heating shaft and providing an electrical connection therebetween; and        a retaining member engaging the circumferential recess through the opening.       
     
     
       6. The laminating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the resilient member engages an end face of the heating shaft. 
     
     
       7. The laminating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining member comprises a resilient clip. 
     
     
       8. The laminating apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a conductive wire coupled to the sheath. 
     
     
       9. The laminating apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a liner positioned within the sheath in contact with the sheath and the resilient member. 
     
     
       10. The laminating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the resilient member comprises at least one of a metal spring and conductive rubber. 
     
     
       11. A laminating apparatus for laminating a sheet material between a pair of films comprising:
   a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly, each comprising:      a roller;        a heating shaft extending through the roller and having circumferential grooves at the ends thereof;        first and second sheaths extending around the ends of the heating shaft, the sheaths each defining a slot positioned over one of the circumferential grooves;        first and second resilient members each positioned between one of the first and second sheaths and the heating shaft and providing an electrical connection therebetween; and        retaining members each engaging both one of the slots and one of the circumferential grooves.       
     
     
       12. The laminating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second resilient members engage end faces of the heating shaft. 
     
     
       13. The laminating apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the retaining members comprise resilient clips. 
     
     
       14. The laminating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient clips comprise straight portions engaging the circumferential grooves through the slots. 
     
     
       15. The laminating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising conductive wires each coupled to one of the first and second sheaths. 
     
     
       16. The laminating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising liners positioned within the first and second sheaths in contact with the sheaths and the resilient members. 
     
     
       17. The laminating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient members each comprise at least one of a metal spring and conductive rubber. 
     
     
       18. A laminating system for laminating a sheet material between a pair of films comprising:
   a protective cover;        a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly positioned within the protective cover and positioned to form a passage capable of receiving a film therebetween, the first roller assembly and second roller assembly each comprising:      a roller;        a heating shaft extending through the roller and defining at least one circumferential recess;        a sheath extending around at least one end of the heating shaft and defining a slit aligned with the circumferential recess;        a resilient member engaging the sheath and the heating shaft and providing an electrical connection therebetween; and        a retaining member engaging the circumferential recess through the slit; and          a conductor for coupling a power source to the sheaths of the first and second roller assemblies.     
     
     
       19. The laminating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the resilient member engages an end face of the heating shaft. 
     
     
       20. The laminating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the retaining member comprises a resilient clip. 
     
     
       21. The laminating apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient clip comprises straight portions engaging the circumferential groove through the slots. 
     
     
       22. The laminating apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a conductive wire coupled to the sheath. 
     
     
       23. The laminating apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a liner positioned within the sheath in contact with the sheath and the resilient member. 
     
     
       24. The laminating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the resilient member comprises at least one of a metal spring and conductive rubber.