Method and apparatus for adhering sheets together without trapped bubbles and easy detachment of stack

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for bonding sheets together without trapping bubbles between two adjacent sheets and a procedure for easy detachment of the completed stack of bonded together sheets from the apparatus that constructed it. The present invention is particularly well suited for use with apparatus for construction of three-dimensional objects from a stack of thin sheets bonded together.

1 . A method for facilitating removal of a stack of bonded together sheets from a rigid support base, the method comprising:
 (a) attaching a flexible support structure to the rigid support base;   (b) constructing the stack of bonded sheets such that a bottom surface of the stack is interconnected with a top surface of said flexible support structure;   (c) removing said flexible support structure from the rigid support base; and   (d) separating said flexible support structure from said bottom surface of the stack.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said attaching said flexible support structure to said rigid support base is accomplished by use of adhesive material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said attaching said flexible support structure to the rigid support base is accomplished by use of a plurality of connection posts extending from the rigid support base, said connection posts being inserted into perforations in said flexible support structure, said perforations being of a size so as to grip said connection posts, said perforations being located such that said flexible support structure is substantially planar when so connected to said rigid support base. 
     
     
         4 . A mechanism for facilitating removal of a stack of bonded together sheets from an apparatus for bonding sheets together into a stack, the mechanism comprising:
 (a) a rigid support base connected to the apparatus, said rigid support base having a stack construction surface; and   (b) a flexible support structure detachably engagable with said rigid support base on said stack construction surface, said flexible support structure having a stack adhesion surface.   
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible support structure is configured from one of a list including natural rubber, silicon rubber and plastic such as polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said rigid support base and said flexible support structure are configured such that said flexible support structure is engagable with said rigid support base by use of adhesive material, and detachable by use of an appropriate adhesive releasing agent. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said rigid support base is configured with a plurality of connection posts extending from said stack construction surface and said flexible support structure is configured with at least a like number of corresponding perforations such that said flexible support structure is engagable with said rigid support base by inserting said connection posts into said corresponding perforations such that said stack adhesion surface is substantially planar and substantially parallel to said construction surface. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said rigid support base is connected to an apparatus for constructing a three-dimensional object from thin layers of sheet material that are bonded together.