Vacuum plate, sheet material handling apparatus comprising such vacuum plate, and method for making the plate
US11926489B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2406/351
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum plate which may be used in a system in which sheet material articles are handled by a vacuum plate. The vacuum plate comprises a first wall, a plurality of bores in the first wall, and at least one air outlet for connection to a source of vacuum pressure for applying a vacuum pressure to the bores. The first wall provides, in use, a vacuum lifting surface for pulling and holding the sheet material article to the vacuum surface when vacuum pressure is applied to the bores. Each bore comprises a flared opening terminating at the vacuum surface for admitting air pulled through the bore by the applied vacuum pressure, and opposite this opening, an exit for the air pulled through the bore, this exit being surrounded by a rim that extends above a surrounding surface of the second side of the first wall.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.