Patent · US Expired

Method of making transfer apparatus having vacuum holes

US5119550A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
15References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 19, 1991
Grant dateJun 9, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 19, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49117
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A transfer apparatus includes a transfer member, for example, a transfer drum with a line of small closely spaced laser drilled vacuum holes to hold a receiving sheet to the drum surface. The transfer drum is formed by forming a layer of at least intermediate conductivity material on the surface of a core, forming at least one vacuum opening in the core and laser drilling in the layer a line of closely spaced small holes communicating with the opening. In one embodiment, a short focal length lens focuses a laser beam near the surface of the layer, which beam spreads below the surface to form a conical hole. The conical hole helps maintain the continuity of a transfer field while being free from clogging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.