초록 ▼

A vacuum holddown for sheet materials has a surface having a field of vacuum ports in which each individual port is gated. When a vacuum is applied to the underside of the holddown, the gates close. When a sheet of material is introduced onto a region of the field, the gates only within vacuum manif

A vacuum holddown for sheet materials has a surface having a field of vacuum ports in which each individual port is gated. When a vacuum is applied to the underside of the holddown, the gates close. When a sheet of material is introduced onto a region of the field, the gates only within vacuum manifold passageway covered by the material are configured to spring open, applying a suction force to the sheet via the now opened ports. The holddown thus automatically adjusts to material size. An implementation for use in an ink-jet printer with cut-sheet print media is demonstrated.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A vacuum controlled holding apparatus for securing variably sized sheets of flexible material thereon, associated with a vacuum means for generating a vacuum force, comprising:plate means for sequentially receiving a flexible material sheet on a first surface thereof, t

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A vacuum controlled holding apparatus for securing variably sized sheets of flexible material thereon, associated with a vacuum means for generating a vacuum force, comprising:plate means for sequentially receiving a flexible material sheet on a first surface thereof, the plate means having a plurality of vacuum ports leading to a second surface thereof, the second surface being subject to the force;gating means associated with each of the ports such that under a first condition, wherein a port is not covered by the sheet, the gating means is closed under influence of the force, and under a second condition, wherein a port is covered by the sheet, the gating means is automatically opened such that the force is exerted against the thereby holding the sheet to the first surface, the gating means including a plurality of flaps with a flap located at least partially within each port, each flap being biased to a first position opening the port and each flap including a leakage hole therethrough such that when the port is uncovered the force moves the flap to a second position closing the port and when the port is covered by a region of the sheet, the force creates a vacuum condition between the sheet and the flap via the leakage hole such that the flap moves under bias force to the first position, and the gating means including a flexible material layer mounted subjacent the plate means such that each of the flaps extends from the flexible material layer into an associated vacuum port.