Multiple sequenced rotational air valves for vacuum transport

An image production device, comprising:

• a vacuum control assembly having
• a plenum;
• a perforated plate;
• a plurality of valve assemblies, each valve assembly having
• a rotating valve member and a vacuum passage passing through the valve member, and
• a chamber body having a plurality of chambers, the vacuum passage being capable of simultaneously fluidly connecting the plenum to all chambers of the plurality of chambers,
• the valve member being rotatable between a first position that fluidly connects the vacuum passage with at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers but not all chambers of the plurality of chambers to complete a fluid path between the plenum and the perforated plate, and a second position at which the vacuum passage connects the plenum with none of the plurality of chambers;
• and
• a controller that controls the plurality of valve assemblies to provide vacuum to a first predetermined portion of the perforated plate while also providing no vacuum to a second predetermined portion of the perforated plate;
• a transport belt for transporting a sheet of medium across the perforated plate;
• and
• a media storage compartment for storing sheets of the media.

A method of controlling a vacuum transport in an image production device, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of valve assemblies, each valve assembly having
• a rotating valve member and a vacuum passage passing through the valve member, and
• a chamber body having a plurality of chambers, the vacuum passage being capable of simultaneously fluidly connecting a plenum to all chambers of the plurality of chambers;
• rotating at least one of the valve members between a first position that fluidly connects a corresponding vacuum passage with at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers but not all chambers of the plurality of chambers in a corresponding chamber body to complete a fluid path between the plenum and a perforated plate, and a second position at which the vacuum passage connects the plenum with none of the plurality of chambers;
• controlling the rotation of the valve members to provide vacuum to a first predetermined portion of the perforated plate while simultaneously preventing the application of vacuum to a second predetermined portion of the perforated plate;
• and
• passing a transport belt carrying a sheet of media over the perforated plate.