# US 6,024,266 A · System and method for transporting and clamping flexible film structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,024,266 A - Document ID: US6024266A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 09/179,862 - Filed: 1998-10-28 - Granted: 2000-02-15 - Earliest claimed: 1998-01-16 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Edward Frank Helinski; Donald Wesley Henderson; David Erle Houser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6024266A ## CPC - B65H 23/26: by transverse stationary or adjustable bars or rollers - B65H 23/24: by fluid action, e.g. to retard the running web - B65H 2401/242: Porosity - B65H 2404/621: with variable cross-section, e.g. inflatable - B65H 2406/111: for handling material along a curved path, e.g. fluidised turning bar - H05K 3/005: {Punching of holes} - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract One or more porous air film rolls are used, in a system to support a flexible web during movement of the web, and selectively provide either compliant or rigid clamping of the web while performing processing operations on the web at a work station. The present invention is particularly suitable for punching holes on-the-fly, in both "X" and "Y" directions, in a flexible polyamide film. Up to a four-fold increase in punch tool productivity is provided by the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for transporting a flexible film structure along a pathway extending in a preselected direction and selectively clamping said film structure at a preselected position along said pathway designated for processing of said film structure, comprising: a workstation adapted to perform processing operations on said film structure, said workstation being controllably movable in a direction of at least one of parallel to said pathway and perpendicular to said pathway, and having first and second sides spaced apart from each other in a direction extending along said pathway; a support and clamping system including a means of resiliently clamping the film structure, said clamping system providing: a. an initial clamp position of said film structure; b. compliant movement of the film structure when said film structure is acted upon by forces imparted by the workstation; c. a means of restoring the film structure to the said initial clamp position when said forces imparted by the workstation are removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the means of resiliently clamping the film structure includes at least one film support and clamping station spaced apart from one side of the workstation in a direction along the pathway and including: a plurality of first porous members each having a cylindrical wall portion at least partially defining an interior chamber and having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction parallel to the cylindrical wall portion and perpendicular to the pathway a plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion between the interior chamber and a cylindrically-shaped outer surface of the cylindrical wall portion, an air inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of each first porous member and a controlled source of compressed air; the film structure being supported on an air cushion at each of the first portion members in response to providing a flow of air into the interior chamber of the respective first porous member and clamped in a fixed position with respect to the at least one film support and clamping station in response to interrupting the flow of air into the interior chamber of at least one porous member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one film support and clamping station includes three porous members arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship with respect to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein each of the porous members has a cover member covering the cylindrical wall portion, each cover member having an air porosity less than that provided by the plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion of the respective porous member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein each cover member has a multi-layered construction comprising a first porous layer disposed adjacent the cylindrical wall portion and including a plurality of closely spaced apertures extending therethrough, a second porous layer arranged over the first porous layer and having a porosity less than the first porous layer, and a third porous layer arranged over the second layer and having a greater porosity than the second porous layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the means for restoring the film structure to the initial clamp position includes at least one tensioning weight bearing on the film structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the means of resiliently clamping the film structure includes two film support and clamping stations spaced apart from opposite sides of the workstation in a direction along the pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein each film support and clamping station includes three porous members arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship with respect to each other. ### Claim 9 A device for rigid clamping and low friction transport of a film, said device comprised of a cylindrical air bearing and a film translation system, said film translation system providing a wrap of the film around a portion of a circumference of the air bearing, wherein when gas flows through the air bearing said air bearing provides for low friction transport of the film across the air bearing surface and wherein when no gas flows through the air bearing, the film is pulled against the air bearing surface by tension provided by the film translation system, thus frictionally locking or clamping the film and retarding further movement or translation of the film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical air bearing and film translation system includes a plurality of first porous members each having a cylindrical wall portion at least partially defining an interior chamber and having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction parallel to the cylindrical wall portion and perpendicular to a pathway of movement of the film, a plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion between the interior chamber and a cylindrically-shaped outer surface of the cylindrical wall portion, an air inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of each first porous member and a controlled source of compressed air; the film being supported on an air cushion at each of the first porous members in response to providing a flow of air into the interior chamber of the respective first porous member and clamped in a fixed position in response to interrupting the flow of air into the interior chamber of at least one porous member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the cylindrical air bearing and film translation system includes two film support and clamping stations spaced apart from opposite sides of a workstation in a direction along the pathway and each comprising one of the first porous members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein each cylindrical air bearing and film translation system includes three porous members arranged in a substantially coplanar relationship with respect to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein each of the porous members has a cover member covering the cylindrical wall portion, each cover member having an air porosity less than that provided by the plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion of the respective porous member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, wherein each cover member has a multi-layered construction comprising a first porous layer disposed adjacent the cylindrical wall portion and including a plurality of closely spaced apertures extending therethrough, a second porous layer arranged over the first porous layer and having a porosity less than the first porous layer, and a third porous layer arranged over the second layer and having a greater porosity than the second porous layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, further comprising: a workstation for performing processing operations on the film, the workstation being controllably movable in a direction including at least one of parallel to a direction of transport of the film and perpendicular to a direction of transport of the film. ### Claim 16 A device for compliantly and resiliently clamping a film, comprised of a pressurized cylindrical air bearing supporting the film on an air cushion and a film tensioning and clamping system, said tensioning and clamping system providing for: a. a wrap of the film around a portion of a circumference of the air bearing; b. tension in the film; c. rigid clamping of the film at positions on opposite sides of said air bearing; said air bearing and air cushion providing for compliant and resilient movement of the film on opposite sides of the air bearing in response to perturbations in film tension. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, further comprising: a workstation for performing processing operations on the film, the workstation being controllably movable in a direction including at least one of parallel to a direction of transport of the film and perpendicular to a direction of transport of the film. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the film tensioning and clamping system includes a plurality of first porous members each having a cylindrical wall portion at least partially defining an interior chamber and having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction parallel to the cylindrical wall portion and perpendicular to a pathway of movement of the film, a plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion between the interior chamber and a cylindrically-shaped outer surface of the cylindrical wall portion, an air inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of each first porous member and a controlled source of compressed air; the film being supported on an air cushion at each of the first portion members in response to providing a flow of air into the interior chamber of the respective first porous member and clamped in a fixed position in response to interrupting the flow of air into the interior chamber of at least one porous member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the film tensioning and clamping system includes two film support and clamping stations spaced apart from opposite sides of a workstation in a direction along the pathway and each comprising one of the first porous members. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system according to claim 19, wherein each film support and clamping station includes three porous members including the first porous members arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship with respect to each other, wherein each of the three porous members of each film support and clamping station has a cover member covering the cylindrical wall portion, each cover member having an air porosity less than that provided by the plurality of air passageways extending through the cylindrical wall portion of the porous member it covers, and wherein each cover member has a multi-layered construction comprising a first porous layer disposed adjacent the cylindrical wall portion and including a plurality of closely spaced apertures extending therethrough, a second porous layer arranged over the first porous layer and having a porosity less than the first porous layer, and a third porous layer arranged over the second layer and having a greater porosity than the second porous layer.