Patent ID: 6322265
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
Vacuum workbed for supporting a sheet material to be worked on, comprising:a workbed having a worksurface for supporting the sheet material, the worksurface including a plurality of apertures for applying suction to the sheet material, said apertures separated into first and second zones for accommodating sheet material of different sizes and orientations, with said zones not being in fluid communication with each other;a suction source for applying suction to the apertures;a manifold for providing fluid communication between said suction source and said apertures for applying suction thereto;a sensor in fluid communication with said suction source for providing a signal responsive to the degree of vacuum drawn by said suction source on the apertures; andmeans for restricting the flow rate through one of the zones of apertures for reducing degree of vacuum loss when said one zone includes unblocked apertures.