Apparatus and methods for masking a printer table
AssigneeInca Digital Printers Limited
InventorPhilip Russell James Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer table for supporting a substrate during a printing operation comprises a substrate support surface comprising a plurality of apertures. The apertures are arranged such that a substrate placed on the printer table covers at least one of the apertures. The printer table comprises a plurality of ball valves arranged in fluidic connection with the apertures, where each of the ball valves has an open configuration and a closed configuration and is biased to the open configuration. The printer table also comprises a negative air pressure source configured to apply a negative air pressure through the plurality of ball valves to the plurality of apertures.
Claims18
A printer table for supporting a substrate during a printing operation, comprising:
- a substrate support surface comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures arranged such that a substrate placed on the printer table covers at least one of the apertures, wherein the substrate support surface comprises a plurality of regions, each of the regions comprising a subset of the plurality of apertures;
- a plurality of ball valves, each having an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein each ball valve is biased to the open configuration;
- and
- a negative air pressure source configured to apply a negative air pressure through the plurality of ball valves to the plurality of apertures;
- wherein each ball valve is arranged in fluidic connection with the apertures corresponding to one of the regions, such that there is a one-to-one mapping between the ball valves and the regions;
- and
- wherein regions arranged towards the centre of the substrate support surface are larger than regions arranged towards the perimeter of the substrate support surface, thereby allowing more precise control over the apertures towards the perimeter of the substrate support surface.
A method of manufacturing a printer table for supporting a substrate during a printing operation, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate support surface comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the substrate support surface comprises a plurality of regions, each of the regions comprising a subset of the plurality of apertures;
- arranging the apertures such that a substrate placed on the printer table covers at least one of the apertures;
- providing a plurality of ball valves, each having an open configuration and a closed configuration;
- arranging each ball valve in fluidic connection with the apertures corresponding to one of the regions, such that there is a one-to-one mapping between the ball valves and the regions;
- arranging the plurality of ball valves to be biased to the open configuration;
- and
- coupling a negative air pressure source to the plurality of apertures via the plurality of ball valves;
- wherein regions arranged towards the centre of the substrate support surface are larger than regions arranged towards the perimeter of the substrate support surface, thereby allowing more precise control over the apertures towards the perimeter of the substrate support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.