US5141212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum chuck with foam workpiece-supporting surface
Assignee: EKSROM CARLSON & Co A Corp OF
•
Filing: 1991-04-08
•
Granted: 1992-08-25
•
Expires: 2011-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum chuck includes a lower base with vacuum plenums, a permanent metal plate with vertically extending holes which communicate with the plenums, a panel of particle board with vertically extending holes disposed in registry with the holes in the metal plate, and a sheet of open cell foam covering the particle board and defining the top surface of the chuck. When a vacuum is drawn in the plenums, it is disbursed beneath the foam sheet via the holes and acts through the foam sheet to clamp the workpiece tightly with respect to the metal plate. During cutting of the workpiece into individual piece parts, a cutting tool cuts through the workpiece and the foam sheet but is prevented by the particle board from cutting into the permanent metal plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack D. Beeding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:15
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B11/00; B25B11/005; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/02; B23Q3/06; B23Q3/08; B23Q3/088; B23Q2240/00; B23Q2240/002; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/748
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A vacuum chuck for supporting and clamping a workpiece during cutting of the workpiece by a tool, said chuck comprising a base having an upper side, a first generally horizontal plate overlying the upper side of said base, a vacuum chamber defined between said base and said plate and adapted to communicate with a vacuum source, a series of holes of predetermined diameter extending vertically through said plate and communicating with said chamber, a second plate overlying said first plate and made of a softer material than said first plate, a series of holes extending vertically through said second plate and located in registry with the holes in said first plate, the holes in said second plate having a diameter greater than the diameter of the holes in said first plate, and a sheet of open cell foam covering said second plate and closing off the holes therein, said workpiece being supported by said foam sheet and being clamped downwardly against said foam sheet when vacuum is applied to said chamber, said tool cutting into said foam sheet during cutting of said workpiece by said tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A vacuum chuck for supporting and clamping a workpiece during cutting of the workpiece by a tool, said chuck comprising a base having an upper side, a first generally horizontal plate overlying the upper side of said base, a vacuum chamber defined between said base and said plate and adapted to communicate with a vacuum source, a series of holes of predetermined diameter extending vertically through said plate and communicating with said chamber, a second plate overlying said first plate and made of a softer material than said first plate, a series of holes extending vertically through said second plate and located in registry with the holes in said first plate, the holes in said second plate having a diameter greater than the diameter of the holes in said first plate, and a sheet of open cell foam covering said second plate and closing off the holes therein, said workpiece being supported by said foam sheet and being clamped downwardly against said foam sheet when vacuum is applied to said chamber, said tool cutting into said foam sheet during cutting of said workpiece by said tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum chuck as defined in claim 1 in which said sheet is open cell polyurethane foam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum chuck as defined in claim 2 in which said sheet has an uncompressed thickness of approximately 5/16".
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vacuum chuck as defined in claim 3 in which said sheet has a density of approximately 11/3 pounds per cubic foot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vacuum chuck as defined in claim 1 in which the diameter of the holes in said second plate is approximately twice the diameter of the holes in said first plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3334586A
Cited
US3790154A
Cited
US3848327A
Cited
US3777604A
Cited
US4049484A
Cited
US4543862A
Cited
US4675242A
Cited
US4718629A
Cited
US4656906A
Cited
US4850579A
Cited
US4808046A
Cited
US4723766A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |