Abstract:
A vacuum holddown has a holddown member with an outer surface for temporarily capturing a flexible sheet material via a vacuum force distributed across the outer surface through discrete vacuum channels. A vacuum force valve mechanism abuts an inner surface of the holddown member in a selectable sliding engagement. The valve mechanism has a pattern of apertures therethrough in predetermined pattern such that discrete valve mechanism positions produce discrete vacuum force patterns at the outer surface of the holddown member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to vacuum holddown apparatus and methods of operation and, more specifically, to a cut-sheet print media vacuum holddown particularly useful for a hard copy apparatus, such as an ink-jet printer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is known to use a vacuum induced force to adhere a sheet of flexible material to a surface, for example, for holding a sheet of print media temporarily to a platen. [Hereinafter, “vacuum induced force” is also referred to as “vacuum induced flow,” “vacuum flow,” or more simply as just “vacuum” or “suction”.] Such vacuum holddown systems are a relatively common, economical technology to implement commercially and can improve machine throughput specifications. For example, it is known to provide a rotating drum with holes through the surface so that a vacuum through the drum cylinder provides a suction force at the holes in the drum surface. [The term “drum” as used hereinafter is intended to be synonymous with any curvilinear implementation incorporating the present invention; while the term “platen” can be defined as a flat holding surface, in hard copy technology it is also used for curvilinear surfaces, such as a common typewriter rubber roller; thus, for the purposes of the present application, “platen” is used generically for any shape holddown surface used in a flexible material holddown apparatus.] 
     Generally in a hard copy apparatus implementation, the platen is used either to transport cut-sheet print media to a printing station of a hard copy apparatus, such as a copier or a computer printer, or to hold the cut sheet print media at the printing station while images are formed (also known as the “print zone”), or both. [In order to simplify discussion, the term “paper” is used hereinafter to refer to all types of print media. No limitation on the scope of the invention is intended nor should any be implied.] 
     One universal problem, particularly pertinent in the adaptation of a vacuum holddown to use in a hard copy apparatus, is the management of different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses of available paper. Open holes around the edges of a sheet smaller than the dimensions of the vacuum field across the platen surface results in vacuum losses and a lower or ineffective holding force. In other words, too many exposed vacuum ports result in a loss of suction at the platen surface and the paper is not firmly adhered to the surface. 
     One technique for controlling a vacuum holddown is proposed by Rasmussen et al. in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 09/292,767 for a PRINT MEDIA VACUUM HOLDDOWN (assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference). A vacuum holddown for sheet materials has a surface having a field of vacuum ports in which each individual port is gated. When a vacuum is applied to the underside of the holddown, the gates close. When a sheet of material is introduced onto a region of the field, the gates only within vacuum manifold passageway covered by the material are configured to spring open, applying a suction force to the sheet via the now opened ports. The holddown thus automatically adjusts to material size. An implementation for use in an ink-jet printer with cut-sheet print media is demonstrated. 
     Another technique is demonstrated by Rhodes et al. in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/292,125 for a VACUUM CONTROL FOR VACUUM HOLDDOWN (assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference). A mechanism for manifolding a vacuum force to separate surface sectors of a vacuum holddown uses subsurface ducting to apply the vacuum to separate subsurface vacuum plenums wherein each is fluidically coupled to a separate surface sectors. The plenum is segregated by a diaphragm into surface side and vacuum side cavities. Trigger ports and appropriate ducting through the holddown subjacent the surface associated with each sector determine how the vacuum is routed. Only when a trigger port is covered is the vacuum routed to the surface sector associated therewith. The system can be implemented in planar or curvilinear constructs and be provided with features to accommodate a near-continuous range of flexible material sizes. A specific implementation in an ink-jet hard copy apparatus is also described. 
     Related to the Rasmussen et al. and Rhodes et al. Applications, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/292,838 for a VACUUM SURFACE FOR WET DYE HARD COPY APPARATUS by Wotton et al. (assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference) shows a platen surface structure construct, particularly useful in a hard copy apparatus for a vacuum holddown, configured by dimensioning print media platen surface structure channels and ports in order to ensure print media leading edge and trailing edge holddown. The vacuum is distributed across the platen surface in accordance with predetermined dye flow characteristics based upon known dye composition and known print medium composition and such that print artifacts are not created by vacuum pulling wet dye through the capillaries Df the medium. 
     There is a continuing need to direct vacuum forces to specific locations of a holddown to increase vacuum efficiency and improve holddown force. Moreover, there is a need for a vacuum holddown for sheet material transport that can adjust to hold a variety of sizes of materials. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In its basic aspects, the present invention provides a vacuum holddown apparatus including: first mechanisms for distributing a vacuum force, having a first mechanism&#39;s outer surface and a first mechanism&#39;s inner surface, such that the first mechanism&#39;s outer surface is configured for receiving and holding flexible sheet materials there against by having a plurality of channels of a first predetermined pattern, each of the channels having a through port for coupling an associated channel with the vacuum force; and second mechanisms for distributing the vacuum force, having a second mechanism&#39;s outer surface and a second mechanism&#39;s inner surface, the second mechanism&#39;s outer surface abutting the first mechanism&#39;s inner surface in a substantially fluidically tight sliding engagement, the second mechanisms having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the plurality of apertures having a second predetermined pattern across the second mechanisms, such that sliding the second mechanisms relative to the first mechanisms causes redistribution of the vacuum force to the channels in accordance with the immediate alignment of the first mechanisms and the second mechanisms. 
     In another basic aspect, the present invention provides a method for distributing a vacuum holddown vacuum force to a first surface having a plurality of vacuum channels in a first predetermined pattern wherein each channel is separately ported to a second surface for drawing a vacuum therefrom, the channels adapted for securing a flexible sheet material to the first surface via influence of the vacuum force. The method includes the steps of: adjacently to the second surface, mounting a valve mechanism for redistributing the vacuum force between predetermined sets of channels wherein the valve mechanism has a substantially identical shape and size of the second surface, the valve mechanism having apertures therethrough arrayed in a second predetermined pattern; and selectively moving the valve mechanism to align selected ones of the apertures to selected ones of the ports in accordance with producing a predetermined vacuum force distribution at the first surface. 
     In another basic aspect, the present invention provides, a vacuum drum printer vacuum drum device including: a drum having a plurality of vacuum channels in a first predetermined array across a drum outer surface, each of the vacuum channels having a vacuum port fluidically coupling an associated vacuum channel to a drum inner surface; and mounted within the drum, at least one sleeve having a sleeve outer surface in sliding face-to-face contact with the drum inner surface and having apertures therethrough in a second predetermined array such that discrete sleeve positions produce discrete vacuum patterns at the outer surface of the drum. 
     Some of the advantage of the present invention are: 
     it provides a means for directing vacuum forces to specific areas for maximum media hold down; 
     it provides improved vacuum efficiency by making an adjustment as a variable sized sheet is delivered to the holddown, focusing the highest vacuum forces at the leading edge and a region where the rest of the sheet progressively comes into contact with the holddown; 
     it supplies the highest relative vacuum forces on the leading and trailing edges of the sheet; 
     it is useful to adjust for different widths of sheets by sealing off the vacuum ports with are outside a chosen sheet width; 
     it provides a low cost manufacturing solution to the problem of distributing vacuum forces across a holddown where adjustment for held sheet widths is required; and 
     in a vacuum drum hard copy apparatus implementation, a paper transport system implementation is operable while being moved at a relatively high speed of rotation. 
     The foregoing summary and list of advantages is not intended by the inventor to be an inclusive list of all the aspects, objects, advantages and features of the present invention nor should any limitation on the scope of the invention be implied therefrom. This Summary is provided in accordance with the mandate of 37 C.F.R. 1.73 and M.P.E.P. 608.01(d) merely to apprize the public, and more especially those interested in the particular art to which the invention relates, of the nature of the invention in order to be of assistance in aiding ready understanding of the patent in future searches. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following explanation and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference designations represent like features throughout the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A through 1D demonstrate a first embodiment of the present invention in a planar illustration, showing vacuum distribution for different positions of a vacuum valve sleeve. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2B demonstrate a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1A through 1D. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B demonstrate a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1A through 2B. 
     FIG. 4 is a vacuum drum platen in accordance with the present invention as demonstrated in FIGS.  1 A through  3 B. 
    
    
     The drawings referred to in this specification should be understood as not being drawn to scale except if specifically annotated. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is made now in detail to a specific embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for practicing the invention. Alternative embodiments are also briefly described as applicable. 
     FIG. 1A shows a vacuum holddown  401  in accordance with the present invention. It is intended that the present invention be implemented in any form of holddown that is constructed to fit the particular use. For example, FIG. 4 shows a cylindrical holddown platen  402  embodiment of the present as would be useful in a vacuum drum printer. FIG. 4 shows that the drum platen  402  has an outer surface  403  having a substantially symmetric pattern  405  of vacuum channels  407 . Each vacuum channel  407  has at least one vacuum port  409  located at a predetermined position, such as at the midpoint, of the channel and extending through to the inner surface  411  of the platen. A sliding valve mechanism  413 , such as a plate or a sleeve depending on the holddown surface configuration needed, is contained within the cylindrical vacuum drum platen  402 . The sliding valve mechanism  413  has an inner surface  415  and a plurality of apertures  417  arrayed in a predetermined pattern as described in more detail hereinafter. 
     Note that other curvilinear shapes may be implemented. For convenience of explanation, the present invention will be described with respect to the planar embodiments of FIGS. 1A-3B; no limitation on the scope of the invention is intended by the inventors in using this exemplary embodiment nor should any such limitation be implied therefrom. 
     Referring also to FIG. 1B, the illustrated holddown  401  can be visualized as a planar holddown or as an unrolled print media cylindrical vacuum platen holddown  401  of FIG.  4 —also referred to in the art as a “vacuum drum”—where the height of the rectangle is the circumference of the cylinder, the width of the rectangle the axial width of the cylinder. For convenience of explanation, the latter will be used as an exemplary embodiment; this visualization thus represents the view of the concentric cylinders of FIG. 4 from the inside of the holddown  401 . The outer surface  403  of the drum platen  402  would be oriented in the plane of the page, so the surface channels  407  are shown in phantom line. The holddown  401  includes a sliding valve mechanism  413 , also referred to hereinafter for convenience as the “sliding sleeve  413 .” 
     The sliding sleeve  413  is in an internal, sliding, face-to-face, substantially fluid tight, contact with the platen  402 . A specific pattern of apertures  417  is provided through the sliding sleeve  413 . The pattern is designed such that when the sleeve is moved axially (see labeled arrow  101 ) relative to the drum platen  402 , regions of the sleeve outer surface  419  or apertures  417  respectively close or expose vacuum ports  409  in predetermined, design-specific patterns. Therefore, as vacuum force is drawn across the inner surface of the sliding valve plate sleeve  413  in a known manner, e.g., with an exhaust fan (not shown), exposed vacuum ports  409  transmit the vacuum force into their associated channels  407 . 
     With the patterns of apertures  417  and the ported channels  407  and the sliding valve plate sleeve  413  positioned with respect to the drum platen  402  as shown in FIG. 1A, a vacuum distribution represented by the shaded channels  421  is created as shown in FIG. 1B (sliding valve plate/sleeve  413  positioned as in FIG. 1A removed for purpose of demonstration). 
     To continue the drum printer platen analogy, if the dimensions of the outer surface are designed to generally handle A-size media (up to 8.5×14 inch, legal), the position of FIGS. 1A and 1B would be appropriate to distributing the vacuum to an outer surface  403  region for a post card or an index card size sheet of paper, e.g., 3×5-inches or perhaps a 4×6-inch photograph. 
     FIG. 1C illustrates the repositioned sleeve  413 , shifted axially  101  to the right from FIG.  1 A. In this relative position of the sleeve  413  with respect to the drum platen  402 , additional vacuum ports  409  have been fluidically coupled to the vacuum across the inner surface  415  of the sleeve, creating a different vacuum distribution shown in FIG.  1 D. This distribution would be appropriate to distributing the vacuum to an outer surface  403  region to capturing and temporarily securing the print media leading edge at surface region  423  and trailing edge at surface region  424  for or a letter size (8.5×11 inch) sheet of paper. Further shifting of the sleeve as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C axially  101  to the right would similarly shift the vacuum trailing edge distribution surface region  424  to a legal size sheet of paper. 
     Any suitable mechanism for shifting the sliding sleeve  413  from a simple, low cost, end-user controlled manual switch to a fully automated system capable of recognizing the next size of media to be captured based upon the print data set can be employed with the present invention. Such an automated system can be employed to dynamically change the vacuum distribution in real-time holddown operational conditions when needed. 
     An alternative embodiment, suited for producing vacuum patterns for any length sheet up to the length of the outer surface  403  having vacuum channels  407  therein by controlling the axial position of the sleeve  413  is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. This embodiment&#39;s sliding valve sleeve  413  apertures  417  configuration is also shown in FIG.  4 . The sliding valve sleeve  413  axial displacement is shown in FIG. 2A as being part way through its full range of motion and the distribution pattern created is illustrated in FIG.  2 B. Note that some vacuum ports  409  are partially covered which may result in a lower vacuum force, or vacuum depletion zones, for associated platen surface channels  407 ; this is depicted by a lighter shading of those channels. As the sliding valve sleeve  413  has trailing edge apertures  417  connected into a diagonal band across the outer surface  403 , when the sleeve  413  slides within the drum platen  402  axially from left to right the vacuum influenced region  425  of the platen for a leading edge of the sheet remains fully under the vacuum influence while the vacuum influenced region  426  of the platen for a trailing edge of a sheet moves from top to bottom (or around the circumference toward downstream regions of a sheet). 
     Another alternative embodiment is illustrated by FIGS.  3 A and  3 B. Since it is important to maintain flatness of the sheet during printing to provide uniform clearance to the writing instrument, more apertures  417  can be added to the sliding valve sleeve  413  to produce whatever level of vacuum force is desired again at a sheet leading edge region  427 , a sheet trailing edge region  429 , and a vacuum depletion region  428  therebetween. 
     It should be noted that in a drum printer embodiment the sleeves  413  may be interchangeable, giving the end-user flexibility of operation. For example, the sliding valve embodiment of FIG. 1A, having specifically targeted vacuum zones related to predetermined, commercially available, media sizes, might be swapped out for the embodiment of FIG. 2A or  3 A when using special media. 
     Another feature of the present invention such as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2A-3B, particularly advantageous for a drum printer using hard-to-hold media, is the opportunity to begin loading media with all of the vacuum concentrated in a single band when the paper leading edge meets the platen. By dynamically coordinating the rotation of the drum platen with the paper feed, sleeve movement at a rate which would allow the second band of vacuum  426 , to appear and effectively remain at the sheet loading point until the trailing edge of the media is captured. At that time the sleeve stops translating and the second band stays with the trailing edge during printing operations. This has a positive effect on vacuum efficiency, since waste flow through exposed holes is kept to a minimum. Higher concentrations of vacuum stay with the leading and trailing edges of the sheet where higher holddown force is needed. 
     Thus, the combination of platen  402  with the sliding valve plate sleeve  413  provides discrete sleeve positions to produce discrete vacuum patterns at the outer surface  403  of the holddown  401 . It will be recognized by a person skilled in the art that the vacuum distribution features of a holddown in accordance with the present invention—width adjust, length, dynamic length adjust, depletion zone creation, and the like as might be useful in a particular implementation—can be combined as desired through creative shapes and orientation of valve apertures  417  for any given platen surface  403  structure. Thus, ideal flexible sheet material handling ability can be tailored to the need at hand. 
     As can now be recognized, the sliding sleeve  413  need not be a unitary part. Two or more sleeves residing side-by-side in the axial direction would allow keeping some channels, or columns of channels, closed for use of a narrow print medium. This avoids larger vacuum losses through exposed holes. 
     Moreover, a plurality of Layered or concentric sliding sleeves  413  having controllable relative positioning allows a greater number of open/closed aperture combinations. This, again, is particularly useful for narrow media which would leave relatively extensive exposure of open vacuum ports and lead to a large vacuum loss. 
     Still further, the relative motion between the sleeve and platen could alternatively or combinatorially be in the rotational direction. A benefit of this approach is that it can mobilize the zone intended for the leading/trailing edge vacuum capture. In other words, the leading edge vacuum zone can be moved to a position on the drum where the next sheet will be presented, saving time which might be consumed if the sheet has to wait for a fixed leading edge vacuum capture zone to arrive. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Particularly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a wide variety of combinations of outer surface channels  407  with associated vacuum ports  409  can be designed to fit the needs of a specific design goal for the hold down  401  specific use; thus, no limitation on the scope of the invention is intended by the inventors in using these exemplary embodiments nor should any such limitation be implied therefrom. Similarly, any process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope so of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” Moreover, no element, component, nor method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the following claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase: 
     “means for . . . .”