US4675242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for holding hard plate under suction and soft sheet suitable for use in the practice of the method
Assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-10-29
•
Granted: 1987-06-23
•
Expires: 2005-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A hard plate such as blank paper board can be held under suction on a table, such as the table of a coordinate plotter, with air holes bored therethrough, by superposing a soft sheet, which includes an air-permeable portion at a desired location and an air-impermeable portion made of an air-impermeable elastic material and surrounding the periphery of the air-permeable portion, over the table in such a way that the air-permeable portion is communicated with the air holes; superposing the hard plate on the soft sheet in such a way that at least the air-permeable portion is covered by the hard plate; and sucking air through the air holes to hold the hard plate by vacuum. Use of the soft sheet permits easy, prompt and sure positioning of the hard plate even if a warp or distortion is contained in the hard plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeji Hashimoto
- 👤 Kenji Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:57
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B11/00; B25B11/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for holding a hard plate under suction, which comprises: superposing a soft sheet, which includes an air-permeable portion at a desired location and an air-impermeable portion made of an air-impermeable elastic material and surrounding the periphery of the air-permeable portion, over a table with air holes bored therethrough in such a way that the air-permeable portion is communicated with the air holes; superposing the hard plate on the soft sheet in such a way that at least the air-permeable portion is covered by the hard plate; and sucking air through the air holes to hold the hard plate by vacuum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for holding a hard plate under suction, which comprises: superposing a soft sheet, which includes an air-permeable portion at a desired location and an air-impermeable portion made of an air-impermeable elastic material and surrounding the periphery of the air-permeable portion, over a table with air holes bored therethrough in such a way that the air-permeable portion is communicated with the air holes; superposing the hard plate on the soft sheet in such a way that at least the air-permeable portion is covered by the hard plate; and sucking air through the air holes to hold the hard plate by vacuum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the air-permeable portion of the soft sheet is a void.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the air-permeable portion of the soft sheet is formed of an air-permeable porous elastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A soft sheet suitable for use in holding a hard plate under suction, comprising an air-permeable portion defining an opening and an air-impermeable portion made of an air-impermeable elastic material and surrounding the periphery of the air-permeable portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A soft sheet suitable for use in holding a hard plate under suction, comprising an air-permeable portion defining an opening and an air-impermeable portion made of an air-impermeable elastic material and surrounding the periphery of the air-permeable portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A soft sheet according to claim 4, wherein an air-permeable porous elastic material is filled in the opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3617045A
Cited
US3598006A
Cited
US3765289A
Cited
US4049484A
Cited
US4138080A
Cited
US4211808A
Cited
US4301999A
Cited
US4543862A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |