Vacuum belt system having internal rotary valve
US9796546B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2406/36
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum belt moves between a print head and a manifold. The manifold has manifold chambers, and each of the manifold chambers has manifold openings. Vacuum lines are connected to the manifold chambers. The vacuum lines exert vacuum force upon the manifold chambers, and the manifold openings exert the vacuum force through belt perforations. A cylindrical valve structure is connected to the vacuum lines. The cylindrical valve structure includes a cylindrical sleeve (having sleeve openings connected to the vacuum lines) and an internal valve cylinder positioned within the cylindrical sleeve. The internal valve cylinder has groups of vacuum slots. The internal valve cylinder moves linearly within the cylindrical sleeve (in directions parallel to cylindrical walls of the cylindrical sleeve) to align only one of the groups of vacuum slots with the sleeve openings at a time, so as to control which of the manifold chambers receive the vacuum draw.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.