Vacuum aperture valve array
AssigneeAgfa NV
InventorsAndrew James Brown, Anderson McKeague
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sheet 200 for an array of vacuum apertures 152 in a substrate support unit 150 of a printer is provided. The sheet 200 comprises a plurality of valves 202 formed into the sheet 200. The sheet 200 is made from a resilient material. Each valve 202 comprises a valve head 204 for sealing a vacuum aperture 152 in the substrate support unit 150, and a valve lever arm 206 for permitting movement of the valve head 204 towards and away from the vacuum aperture 152 in order to open and close the valve 202.
Claims14
A sheet for an array of vacuum apertures in a substrate support unit of a printer, comprising:
- a plurality of valves formed into the sheet;
- wherein the sheet is made from a resilient material;
- and
- wherein each valve comprises a valve head for sealing a vacuum aperture in the substrate support unit, and a valve lever arm for permitting movement of the valve head towards and away from the vacuum aperture in order to open and close the valve;
- and
- wherein the valve lever arm extends from the sheet at a first side of the valve head around the side of the valve head and is connected to the valve head at a second side opposite the first side.
A substrate support system for a printer, comprising:
- a support unit having an upper surface comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum apertures arranged in fluidic communication with a source of negative pressure;
- and
- a plurality of recesses aligned with the plurality of vacuum apertures;
- a sheet of valves, wherein the sheet comprises:
- a plurality of valves formed into the sheet;
- wherein the sheet is made from a resilient material;
- and
- wherein each valve comprises a valve head for sealing a vacuum aperture in the support unit, and a valve lever arm for permitting movement of the valve head towards and away from the vacuum aperture in order to open and close the valve;
- wherein the lever arm extends from the sheet at a first side of the valve head around the side of the valve head and is connected to the valve head at a second side opposite the first side;
- and
- wherein the sheet is arranged on the upper surface, and wherein the valves are arranged in the respective recesses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.