Printer with vaccum device for holding film for printing

Claim 1

Apparatus for printing on a section of flexible film, comprising: a. a vacuum frame; b. a conduit connecting the vacuum frame to a source of vacuum; c. a printing head for printing on a supported section of a flexible film; and d. means for mounting the vacuum frame to the printing head, the vacuum frame comprising: i. a structural member having laterally spaced bores formed therein, said bores being connected with said connecting conduit and along with said connecting conduit forming a vacuum manifold, said structural member defining at least one surface which includes at least two terminal points which lie in a plane coincident with the supported section of the flexible film; and ii. laterally spaced ducts formed within said structural member, said ducts extending from and intersecting a respective one of said bores at one end thereof and extending to and opening into said plane at the other end thereof, the lateral spacing of said ducts being different from the lateral spacing of said bores, said ducts each including a channel for the reception therein of a segment of the flexible film, the segments being drawn into their respective channels by the vacuum communicated through said bores and ducts and applied against the segments such that a drawing force is applied against the segments and a corresponding tension force is applied to the flexible film between the segments as a result of the different lateral spacing between said ducts, said tension force being applied in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the drawing force, said drawing force and corresponding tension force serving to support the flexible film against said structural member and define thereby the supported section of the flexible film. structural member defining at least one surface which includes at least two terminal points which lie in a plane coincident with the supported section of the flexible film; and ii. laterally spaced ducts formed within said structural member, said ducts extending from and intersecting a respectiVe one of said bores at one end thereof and extending to and opening into said plane at the other end thereof, the lateral spacing of said ducts being different from the lateral spacing of said bores, said ducts each including a channel for the reception therein of a segment of the flexible film, the segments being drawn into their respective channels by the vacuum communicated through said bores and ducts and applied against the segments such that a drawing force is applied against the segments and a corresponding tension force is applied to the flexible film between the segments as a result of the different lateral spacing between said ducts, said tension force being applied in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the drawing force, said drawing force and corresponding tension force serving to support the flexible film against said structural member and define thereby the supported section of the flexible film.