The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2019
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2017
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Chu-Heng Liu, Penfield, NY (US);
Paul J. McConville, Webster, NY (US);
Jason M. Lefevre, Penfiled, NY (US);
Douglas K. Herrmann, Webster, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by the printhead. At least one collapsible membrane is attached to the shuttle mount. The membrane forms an airtight sack filled with granules. The membrane collapses at least partially around an object when a volume of air is withdrawn from the membrane by a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump withdrawing a volume of air from the membrane causes the membrane to collapse and tightly pack the granules inside the membrane. The vacuum-packed granules cause the membrane to conform to the shape of the object thereby securing the object to the shuttle mount.