Vacuum hold-down table for an automatically controlled system for working on sheet material
AssigneeCamsco, Inc.
InventorsBobby L. Higgins, James A. Mann, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum hold-down table (36) is provided for holding sheet material (40) in place. The vacuum hold-down table (36) includes a plurality of foam layers (542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552) integrally united to form a laminated monolithic core portion (560) for the table (36). A plurality of apertures (580) extend throughout the core portion (560), such that air flows throughout the core portion (560). A vacuum is provided through structure (608, 610) to the core portion (560) to effectuate a vacuum within the core portion (560) to generate a high flow rate of air passing through the apertures (480) and thereby maintain sheet material (40) on the surface (38) of the table (36).
Claims7
A vacuum hold-down table for holding sheet material in place comprising:
- a plurality of layers united to form a laminated monolithic core portion for the table wherein said core portion has top and bottom surfaces;
- a plurality of apertures extending throughout said core portion, such that air flows throughout said core portion;
- a layer of relatively low porosity material disposed adjacent said top surface of said core portion;
- a first layer of rigid material being disposed between said top surface of said core portion and said layer of relatively low porosity;
- a plurality of apertures extending throughout said first layer of rigid material;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- means for applying said vacuum source to said core portion to effect a vacuum within said core portion to thereby produce a predetermined flow rate of air passing through said plurality of apertures and a high differential pressure to maintain the sheet material in place on the surface of the table.
A vacuum hold-down table for maintaining sheet material in place comprising:
- a plurality of foam layers united to form a laminated core portion of the table wherein said core portion includes top and bottom surfaces;
- a first layer of rigid material having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface being disposed adjacent said top surface of said core portion and united to said core portion;
- a second layer of rigid material having top and bottom surfaces, said top surface being disposed adjacent said bottom surface of said core portion and united to said core portion;
- said core portion and said first and second layers of rigid material forming a body portion for the table;
- a plurality of apertures extending throughout said body portion, such that air flows throughout said body portion of the table;
- a layer of relatively low porosity material disposed adjacent said first layer of rigid material to form a top surface of the table;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- means for applying said vacuum source to said body portion to effectuate a vacuum within said body portion to create a high differential pressure and thereby maintain sheet material in place on the top surface of the table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.