Sheet transport system

Claim 2

An endless vacuum belt system for transporting sheets thereon, particularly suited for transporting copy sheets in electrostatographic systems, comprIsing: a multiplicity of independent elongated tubular vacuum chambers, each with at least one end opening; flexible interconnecting means flexibly connecting said tubular vacuum chambers in series to form a flexible integral belt with said tubular vacuum chambers, with said tubular vacuum chambers extending transverse said belt, said tubular vacuum chambers having sheet-retaining vacuum openings extending therealong; drive means for moving said belt; and vacuum means for applying a vacuum inside selected ones of said tubular vacuum chambers from said end openings thereof.

Claim 3

The vacuum belt system of claim 1, wherein said tubular vacuum chambers are substantially rigid to independently transversely support said belt and any sheets thereon.

Claim 4

The vacuum belt system of claim 1, wherein said vacuum means includes fixed vacuum manifold means and flexible seal means for flexibly sealing a vacuum connection between said manifold means and said tubular vacuum chambers at said end openings thereof.

Claim 5

The vacuum belt system of claim 1, wherein said flexible interconnecting means comprises an elongated low flexure resistance hinge member extending between adjacent tubular vacuum chambers which is substantially thinner than said tubular vacuum chambers and provides recesses between adjacent tubular vacuum chambers.

Claim 6

The vacuum belt system of claim 1, wherein said belt is a monolithic plastic extrusion with said flexible interconnecting means being a continuous thin plastic web.

Claim 7

The vacuum belt system of claim 4, wherein said drive means comprises at least one sprocket wheel engaging said belt with sprocket recesses conforming to said tubular vacuum chambers and sprocket teeth engaging said recesses in said belt.

Claim 8

The vacuum system of claim 6, wherein said belt is as a monolithic plastic extrusion with said flexible interconnecting means being a continuous thin plastic web.

Claim 9

The vacuum system of claim 6, wherein said vacuum means includes fixed vacuum manifold means and flexible seal means for flexibly sealing a vacuum connection between said manifold means and said tubular vacuum chambers at said end openings thereof.

Claim 10

The vacuum belt system of claim 1 in combination with electrostatographic transfer station means in which a sheet is applied against an electrostatographic imaging surface at the entrance to said transfer station, an image is transferred to said sheet, and said sheet is stripped from said imaging surface at the exit of said transfer station, wherein said drive system for said belt includes first support means for holding a first section of said belt closely adjacent said entrance of said transfer station for feeding sheets thereon into said transfer station, and second support means for holding a second section of said belt closely adjacent said exit of said transfer station for stripping sheets from said imaging surface, and wherein said vacuum means is operatively connected to said first and second sections of said belt.

Claim 11

The vacuum belt system of claim 9 further including third support means for holding a third section of said belt between said first and second sections away from said transfer station and said imaging surface.

Claim 12

The vacuum belt system of claim 9, wherein said flexible interconnecting means comprises an elongated low flexure resistance hinge member extending between adjacent tubular vacuum chambers, which hinge member is substantially thinner than said tubular vacuum chambers and provides recesses in said belt between said adjacent tubular vacuum chambers.

Claim 13

The vacuum system of claim 9, wherein said vacuum means includes fixed vacuum manifold means and flexible seal means for flexibly sealing a vacuum connection between said manifold means and said tubular vacuum chambers at said end openings thereof.

Claim 14

The vacuum belt system of claim 9 wherein a fixed vacuum manifold means connects with said belt to apply a vacuum to said vacuum chambers at said first and seCond sections of said belt, and further including fixed air manifold means for applying positive air pressure to another section of said belt for assisting removal of said sheet for said belt.

Claim 15

The vacuum belt system of claim 11, wherein said drive means comprises at least one sprocket wheel engaging said belt with sprocket recesses conforming to said tubular vacuum chambers and sprocket teeth engaging said recesses in said belt.

Claim 16

The vacuum belt of claim 1 wherein said tubular vacuum chambers are individually slideably removable from said belt at said flexible interconnecting means to provide an adjustable length belt.