초록 ▼

Methods and apparatus for masking a selected portion of a workpiece are disclosed. A method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of providing a workpiece having a shape, providing a mask having a similar shape, and urging an adhesive side of the m

Methods and apparatus for masking a selected portion of a workpiece are disclosed. A method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of providing a workpiece having a shape, providing a mask having a similar shape, and urging an adhesive side of the mask against a first surface of the workpiece. A cutter may be used to form a plurality of cuts in the sheet without contacting the workpiece with the cutter. The plurality of cuts may be arranged to define a mask having a desired shape. The mask may be centered on the workpiece.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece having a shape; providing a sheet of masking material; positioning a cutter between the sheet and the workpiece; cutting a mask from the sheet so that the mask has a desired shape; wherein the step of cutting a ma

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece having a shape; providing a sheet of masking material; positioning a cutter between the sheet and the workpiece; cutting a mask from the sheet so that the mask has a desired shape; wherein the step of cutting a mask from the sheet comprises illuminating an adhesive side of the sheet with a laser beam; wherein the step of cutting a mask from the sheet compnses penetrating the adhesive side of the sheet before penetrating a non-adhesive side of the sheet; removing the cutter from between the masking material and the workpiece; and urging an adhesive side of the mask against a first surface of the workpiece. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of cutting a mask from the sheet comprises forming a plurality of cuts in the sheet. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cuts define a plurality of frangible links extending between the mask and a remainder of the sheet. 4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of breaking the frangible links to separate the mask from the remainder. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask and the workpiece define an apron extending between a perimeter of the mask and an extent of the workpiece. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the apron has a substantially uniform width. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the apron is dimensioned to mate with a frame. 8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of supporting a non-adhesive side of the sheet with a platen. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of supporting the non-adhesive side of the sheet with the platen comprises selectively holding the non-adhesive surface of the sheet against the platen. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selectively holding the non-adhesive surface of the sheet against the platen comprises placing a source of low pressure in fluid communication with at least one aperture defined by the platen. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the sheet of masking material comprises joining a plurality of strips to form the sheet. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired shape is similar to a shape of the workpiece. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired shape is a function of the shape of the workpiece. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the desired shape is proportional to the shape of the workpiece. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired shape is smaller than the shape of the workpiece. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein an apron width is twice subtracted from a width of the workpiece to obtain a width of the desired shape. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask has a surface area that is smaller than a surface area of the workpiece and the sheet has a surface area that is larger than the surface area of the workpiece. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired shape includes at least one arcuate side. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired shape includes at least one acute angle. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired shape includes at least one obtuse angle. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of urging-the mask against the workpiece comprises directing a stream of air to impinge upon the mask. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of urging the mask against the workpiece comprises pinching the mask between the workpiece and a platen. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of urging the mask against the workpiece comprises pinching the mask between the workpiece and a roller. 24. The method of claim 1, further including the step of selectively holding a non-adhesive side of the sheet against a platen by placing a source of low pressure in fluid communication with at least one aperture defined by the platen, wherein: (a) the step of cutting a mask from the sheet comprises forming a plurality of cuts in the sheet, the plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links extending between the mask and a remainder of the sheet, (b) the step of providing the sheet of masking material comprises joining a plurality of strips to form the sheet, and (c) the step of urging the adhesive side of the mask against the first surface of the workpiece comprises directing a stream of air to impinge upon the mask. 25. A method comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece having a shape; wherein the workpiece comprises a pane of glass; providing a sheet of masking material; supporting a non-adhesive side of the sheet with a platen; positioning a cutter proximate an adhesive side of the sheet; forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask, wherein the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask comprises penetrating the adhesive side of the sheet with a cutter before penetrating a non-adhesive side of the sheet with the cutter; and urging an adhesive side of the mask against a first surface of the workpiece. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet comprises forming a plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links extending between the mask and a remainder of the sheet. 27. The method of claim 26, further including the step of breaking the frangible links to separate the mask from the remainder. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of forming a plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links comprises penetrating the adhesive side of the sheet before penetrating a non-adhesive side of the sheet. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of forming a plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links comprises illuminating the adhesive side of the sheet with a laser beam. 30. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask and the workpiece define an apron extending between a perimeter of the mask and an extent of the workpiece. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the apron has a substantially uniform width. 32. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of supporting a non-adhesive side of the sheet with a platen comprises selectively holding the non-adhesive surface of the masking material against the platen. 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the apron is dimensioned to mate with a frame. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of selectively holding the non-adhesive surface of the masking material against the platen comprises placing a source of low pressure in fluid communication with at least one aperture defined by the platen. 35. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet comprises the step of illuminating the adhesive side of the sheet with a laser beam. 36. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of providing the sheet of masking material comprises joining a plurality of strips to form the sheet. 37. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask has a cut shape that is similar to the shape of the workpiece. 38. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask has a cut shape that is a function of the shape of the workpiece. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the cut shape of the mask is proportional to the shape of the workpiece. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the cut shape of the mask is smaller than the shape of the workpiece. 41. The method of claim 38, wherein an apron width is twice subtracted from a width of the workpiece to obtain a width of the cut shape of the mask. 42. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask has a surface area that is smaller than a surface area of the workpiece and the sheet has a surface area that is larger than the surface area of the workpiece. 43. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask comprises at least one arcuate side. 44. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask comprises at least one acute angle. 45. The method of claim 25, wherein the mask comprises at least one obtuse angle. 46. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of urging the mask against the workpiece comprises directing a stream of air to impinge upon the mask. 47. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of urging the mask against the workpiece comprises pinching the mask between the workpiece and a platen. 48. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of urging the mask against the workpiece comprises pinching the mask between the workpiece and a roller. 49. The method of claim 25, wherein the pane of glass comprises a thin film overlaying a glass substrate. 50. The method of claim 25, further including the step of selectively holding the non-adhesive side of the sheet against the platen by placing a source of low pressure in fluid communication with at least one aperture defined by the platen, wherein: (a) the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask comprises forming a plurality of cuts in the sheet, the plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links extending between the mask and a remainder of the sheet, (b) the step of providing the sheet of masking material comprises joining a plurality of strips to form the sheet, and (c) the step of urging the adhesive side of the mask against the first surface of the workpiece comprises directing a stream of air to impinge upon the mask. 51. A method comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece having a shape; wherein the workpiece comprises an insulating glass unit; providing a sheet of masking material; supporting a non-adhesive side of the sheet with a platen; positioning a cutter proximate an adhesive side of the sheet; forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask, wherein the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask comprises penetrating the adhesive side of the sheet with a cuff er before penetrating a non-adhesive side of the sheet with the cutter; urging an adhesive side of the mask against a first surface of the workpiece. 52. The method of claim 51, further including the step of selectively holding the non-adhesive side of the sheet against the platen by placing a source of low pressure in fluid communication with at least one aperture defined by the platen, wherein: (a) the step of forming at least one cut in the sheet to define a mask comprises forming a plurality of cuts in the sheet, the plurality of cuts defining a plurality of frangible links extending between the mask and a remainder of the sheet, (b) the step of providing the sheet of masking material comprises joining a plurality of strips to form the sheet, and (c) the step of urging the adhesive side of the mask against the first surface of the workpiece comprises directing a stream of air to impinge upon the mask.