Vacuum transport

Claim 2

In a reproduction machine wherein a transfer member is electrostatically tacked to a moving image support member, a vacuum transport for removing the transfer member from the image support member and transporting the transfer member away from the support member including: a frame member; a plurality of small diameter rolls in axial alignment mounted on one end of said frame member forming a first roller assembly, the axis of said rolls being disposed parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member adjacent said support member; a second roller assembly mounted on said one end of said frame member, the roller axis of said second roller assembly being disposed parallel to and spaced from the axis of said small diameter rolls; a third roller assembly mounted on the other end of said frame member; a plurality of endless perforated belts operatively mounted in said transport for movement around said roller assemblies; means for forming first vacuum ports immediately behind each of said small diameter rolls; and, means forming second vacuum ports between each of said small diameter rolls, said second vacuum ports being positioned adjacent said support member and parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member, movement of said transfer member on said support member adjacent said small diameter rolls causing said transfer member to be separated from said supporT member by the flow of air through said first and second vacuum ports for engagement with said belts and movement by said belts away from said support member.

Claim 3

A reproduction machine wherein a transfer member is electrostatically tacked to a moving image support member comprising: a corona emission device adapted to reduce the electrostatic attraction between the transfer member and the moving image support member; a vacuum transport disposed adjacent said corona emission device for removing the transfer member from the image support member and transporting the transfer member away from the support member, said transport including: a frame member; a plurality of small diameter rolls in axial alignment mounted on one end of said frame member forming a first roller assembly, the axis of said rolls being disposed parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member adjacent said support member; a second roller assembly mounted on said one end of said frame member, the roll axis of said second roller assembly being disposed parallel to and spaced from the axis of said small diameter rolls; a third roller assembly mounted on the other end of said frame member; a plurality of endless perforated belts operatively mounted in said transport for movement around said roller assemblies; means forming first vacuum ports immediately behind each of said small diameter rolls; means forming second vacuum ports between each of said small diameter rolls, said second vacuum ports being positioned adjacent said support member and parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member, movement of said transfer member on said support member adjacent said small diameter rolls causing said transfer member to be separated from said support member by the flow of air through said first and second vacuum ports for engagement with said belts and movement by said belts away from said support member; a corona emission shield plate mounted on said transport immediately adjacent said small diameter rolls, said plate serving to direct corona emissions from said corona emission device onto the transfer member immediately adjacent said small diameter rolls to reduce the electrostatic attraction between the support member and the transfer member to allow removal of said transfer member by said transport.

Claim 4

A reproduction machine wherein a transfer member is electrostatically tacked to a moving image support member comprising: a corona emission device adapted to reduce the electrostatic attraction between the transfer member and the moving image support member; a vacuum transport disposed adjacent said corona emission device for removing the transfer member from the image support member and transporting the transfer member away from the support member, said transport including: a frame member; a plurality of small diameter rolls in axial alignment mounted on one end of said frame member forming a first roller assembly, the axis of said rolls being disposed parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member adjacent said support member; a second roller assembly mounted on said one end of said frame member, the roll axis of said second roller assembly being disposed parallel to and spaced from the axis of said small diameter rolls; a third roller assembly mounted on the other end of said frame member; a plurality of endless perforated belts operatively mounted in said transport for movement around said roller assemblies; means forming first vacuum ports immediately behind each of said small diameter rolls; means forming second vacuum ports between each of said small diameter rolls, said second vacuum ports being positioned adjacent said support member and parallel to the leading edge of said transfer member, movement of said transfer member on said support member adjacent said small diameter rolls causing said transfer member to be separated from said support member by the flow of air through said first and second vacuum ports for engagement with said belts and movement by said belts away from said support member; a corona emission shield plate mounted on said transport immediately adjacent said small diameter rolls, said plate serving to direct corona emissions from said corona emission device onto the transfer member immediately adjacent said small diameter rolls to reduce the electrostatic attraction between the support member and the transfer member to allow removal of said transfer member by said transport.

Claim 5

In a reproduction machine wherein a transfer member is electrostatically tacked to a moving image support member: a transport for removing the transfer member from the image support member and transporting the transfer member away from the support members; and, a corona emission device located adjacent said transport for spraying the transfer member with charged ions, said corona emission device including shield means adapted to direct the charged ions onto a limited area of the transfer member, said limited area being that area on the transfer member between the point on the image support member whereat the transfer member is separated from the image support member and the point at which the transfer member is contacted by said transport, the shield means thereby directing ions only on the area of the transfer member which is unsupported in the space between said image support member and said transport to provide optimum stripping of the transfer member from the image support member while assuring optimum copy quality resulting from the charge produced on the transfer member by said corona emission device.

Claim 6

In a reproduction machine wherein a transfer member is electrostatically tacked to a moving image support member: a transport for removing the transfer member from the image support member and transporting the transfer member away from the support members; and, a corona emission device located adjacent said transport for spraying the transfer member with charged ions, said corona emission device including shield means adapted to direct the charged ions onto a limited area of the transfer member, said limited area being that area on the transfer member between the point on the image support member whereat the transfer member is separated from the image support member and the point at which the transfer member is contacted by said transport, the shield means thereby directing ions only on the area of the transfer member which is unsupported in the space between said image support member and said transport to provide optimum stripping of the transfer member from the image support member while assuring optimum copy quality resulting from the charge produced on the transfer member by said corona emission device.