US 12,246,532 B2
Vacuum aperture valve array
Andrew James Brown, Cambridge (GB); and Anderson McKeague, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to AGFA NV, Mortsel (BE)
Filed by AGFA NV, Mortsel (BE)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/720,578.
Claims priority of application No. 2105315 (GB), filed on Apr. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332130 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 5/22 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01); F16K 15/14 (2006.01); F16K 15/16 (2006.01); F16K 51/02 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 11/0085 (2013.01) [F16K 15/1401 (2021.08); F16K 15/16 (2013.01); F16K 51/02 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet for an array of vacuum apertures in a substrate support unit of a printer, comprising:
a plurality of valves formed into the sheet;
wherein the sheet is made from a resilient material; and
wherein each valve comprises a valve head for sealing a vacuum aperture in the substrate support unit, and a valve lever arm for permitting movement of the valve head towards and away from the vacuum aperture in order to open and close the valve; and
wherein the valve lever arm extends from the sheet at a first side of the valve head around the side of the valve head and is connected to the valve head at a second side opposite the first side.